Just The Tonic with Katie Derham

The People's Orchestra open their doors to anyone in the West Midlands who wants play in their orchestras or sing in their show choirs. Being inclusive is part of their DNA.

There are around 11 million people with a disability in the UK - that's over a fifth of the population - but they are hugely under-represented in the music industry and in music education. So, are we ignoring many talented musicians who don't fit the standard mould?

Disabled musicians face challenges like finding and buying the right instrument, accessing lessons and finding opportunities to perform. There are still concert halls in the UK where a musician in a wheelchair can't access the stage.

Strictly Come Dancing's first deaf contestant, actor Rose Ayling-Ellis is changing perceptions around deaf performers and British Sign Language.

How can we make the music industry a more level playing field for disabled musicians?

Katie finds out when she chats to Klara Filip from The People's Orchestra; Andy Sandham founder member of The People's Orchestra and music teacher in Birmingham; and acclaimed musician and conductor, Charles Hazlewood, founder of Paraorchestra, the world's first fully integrated orchestra of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians.

https://thepeoplesorchestra.com/

https://paraorchestra.com/

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In this episode, Katie Derham finds out how being involved in making music can give people the confidence they need to have a better and brighter future.

We've heard from players in The People's Orchestra and from choir members in one of their many show choirs in previous episodes, but the team behind the inspirational community orchestra in the West Midlands don't only create opportunities for people who want to play an instrument or sing. They create employment opportunities for non-musicians too. Katie speaks to behind-the-scenes staff and people they've helped back into work.

Streetwise Opera is all about giving people recovering from homelessness the chance to get their lives back on track through the power of opera. Head of Communications, Rey Trombetta talks about the value of the projects they run throughout the UK and we hear from Ruben Whitter who says he never thought he would be an opera singer, but being involved in Streetwise Opera has turned his life around.

Celebrated composer Sir James MacMillan has worked with Streetwise Opera in the past and he tells Katie what inspired him to get involved. We find out about the British tradition of composers working in communities and James talks about creating opportunities in his hometown of Cumnock in Scotland through his festival, The Cumnock Tryst.

www.thepeoplesorchestra.com

https://streetwiseopera.org/

https://www.thecumnocktryst.com/

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In Just The Tonic so far, we've explored how being involved in an orchestra or a choir does wonders for your mental and physical health.

Results from research studies conducted by universities all over the world highlight the positive effects of being involved in music. It's clear that music-making benefits everyone.

But not everyone has access to the same opportunities, and that's been particularly true of classical music. It has not been a level playing field, particularly for people from ethnically-diverse communities.

In this episode of Just The Tonic, we're looking at diversity and inclusivity. As The People's Orchestra say, 'Music has no prejudice. Music has no limitations. Music is for Everyone.

So, how can classical music be more open to including people from all backgrounds?

Katie finds out when she chats to Bradley Wilson, the new conductor of The People's Orchestra Rusty Orchestra and a player in Chineke!; acclaimed Birmingham-based saxophonist Xhosa Cole; and Chi-chi Nwanoku, founder of Chineke!, Europe's first majority black and minority ethnic orchestra.

Music includes Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Othello Suite performed by Chineke! and a short piece composed specially for Just The Tonic by Xhosa Cole.

www.thepeoplesorchestra.com

https://www.facebook.com/xhosacolemusic

https://www.chineke.org/

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We're all about the power of song! Countless studies show that singing in choirs can help beat the blues, boost your social life, reduce your stress levels and help you exercise - and, according to the choir members we hear from in this episode, it's true!

Singers in The People's Show Choir Halesowen and the Hallé Orchestra's Ancoats Community Choir talk about the life-changing benefits they get from singing together - and, according to Ula Weber, Halesowen Show Choir Leader, anyone can sing! We hear about the growing social prescribing movement that means GPs can prescribe the arts instead of medicine and Music Director of the Hallé, Sir Mark Elder tells Katie how singing together can have an incredible impact on our health.

www.thepeoplesorchestra.com

https://www.halle.co.uk/

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Episode One is all about the fantastic People's Orchestra and the work they do in the West Midlands. They've worked with young jazz phenomenon Xhosa Cole and legendary composer John Altman, who worked on the music for the new James Bond film, No Time To Die, and has composed especially for them. 

We'll hear from players from The People's Orchestra whose lives have been transformed by playing music. You never know, maybe we'll inspire you join a choir or to get that instrument out of the cupboard. We hope so! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.