Orchestras for All appoints Lucy Hale as Young Composer-in-Residence
Orchestras for All has appointed Lucy Hale as its inaugural Young Composer-in-Residence for the 2019-2020 season.
Lucy, who’s studying for an MMus in Composition after completing undergraduate studies with us, will work with the 100 young members of the National Orchestra for All (NOFA) to create a brand new piece of music to be premiered at LSO St Luke’s in London on 9 April 2020.
NOFA is a unique orchestra comprising young musicians aged 11-18 from across all four nations of the UK. It’s the only non-auditioned, free to participate national youth orchestra of its kind, as music teachers, social workers and partner charities nominate those who have shown dedication and commitment to music in the face of challenging circumstances. Many live with disabilities or chronic health conditions, have caring responsibilities, face socio-economic deprivation or rural isolation, or come from areas where they simply wouldn’t be able to afford to participate in music without NOFA.
Lucy said: ‘Music has had a huge positive impact on my life, and as a disabled person, it has not always been easy for me to access. I believe passionately in OFA’s mission to bring high quality musical experiences to young people in challenging circumstances. I’m looking forward to exploring a fascinating subject and crafting a new piece with and for a diverse group of committed and enthusiastic young people and, I hope, playing a small part in showing those young people that music is for everyone.’
The new piece will form a central part of this unique youth orchestra’s 2019-2020 season which is entitled My Roots, Our Routes, exploring music that has been inspired and influenced by human migrations and journeys. The piece will take its inspiration from the idea of The Silk Road by Land and Sea, exploring aspects of the music of the countries along the Silk Road in two movements, one representing the land route, the other representing the sea route. Hale will lead NOFA through two days of collaborative composition workshops in Liverpool on 23-24 November 2019, supported by NOFA’s team of experienced orchestral tutors, before fully orchestrating the piece for rehearsals and performance next April.
Alongside her studies Lucy is also a trainee Associate Musician with Drake Music, working on the delivery of composition workshops with young disabled people in Liverpool, and was the inaugural Young Composer-in-Association with BSO Resound, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s disabled-led ensemble.
23 October 2019
