Play with Paraorchestra is a new opportunity for young disabled musicians to experience playing on a Paraorchestra project.
Over the course of a two day workshop in January 2025 a small group of young disabled musicians, accompanied by a parent, guardian or carer, will explore a range of musical styles, with a blend of acoustic and electronic sound worlds, working alongside professional Paraorchestra musicians.
Play with Paraorchestra is a creatively ambitious project for young disabled musicians. It offers the same ambitious, collaborative, person-centred way of working as on all Paraorchestra shows, this time for young disabled musicians considering music as a future career.
What we’re looking for
In this first iteration of Play with Paraorchestra we are looking to work with six young disabled musicians aged 12 – 17 years old who identify as D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and want to experience playing with Paraorchestra.
We’re looking for young musicians who can thrive working in a collaborative environment and can demonstrate a creative spark, a passion and commitment to playing live music.
Young disabled musicians applying for this opportunity should be playing at a Grade 5 standard (or equivalent) in relation to musical ability, theoretical understanding, and technical capability.
Participants do not need to have achieved a formal Grade 5 qualifications to apply for Play with Paraorchestra, but we are using the Grade 5 level of musicianship as a guide for young musicians to emphasise the level of musical skill we are looking for from the participants taking part in this project.
In order to apply, applicants must:
- Be aged 12 -17 years old
- Identify as D/deaf or disabled or neurodivergent
- Be able to perform music equivalent to Grade 5 standard or above.
- Be a resident in the UK
- Be able to provide a reference form a music teacher (or equivalent) as part of their application.
- Be able to provide 2 or 3 examples of their playing ability as part of the application process. These don’t need to be professional video or audio recordings, something filmed on your phone is fine!
- Be available to attend a one hour online meeting on Tuesday 26th November 2024, 6 – 7pm.
- Be available on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 2025 to attend the two day in person workshops in Bristol with a parent, guardian or chaperone.
- Be available for a post workshop 1:1 online mentoring session in February/ March 2025.
All participants on the project must attend sessions with a parent, guardian or carer.
Application form: The Play with Paraorchestra application form can be found here.
Video Applications: If you are applying with a video application, please fill out your main details on the application form (https://forms.gle/1RnPHvGTbZk139Ev9) and include a link to your video application in the space provided.
To find our more about Play with Paraorchestra including information on how to apply, please email artistdevelopment@paraorchestra.com
The deadline for applications is 10am Monday 30 September.