Music made with & by people, where they live & work, is what keeps orchestral music alive & relevant: Orchestras Live’s 2026 Impact Review

Orchestras Live: Culture Sounds [Photo: Chiara Dellerba]

Orchestras Live is the charity that works to bring the thrill and connection of live orchestral music to people who might not otherwise encounter it, and to use those shared experiences to spark confidence, wellbeing and a sense of belonging in both the individuals and communities. It has recently released its 2026 Impact Report, which makes for illuminating reading.

They work nationally with a focus in the East, North and the Midlands, often in coastal and rural communities where access to high-quality music experiences are often limited. The report covers some 35 projects and events, working with 37 local partners and 19 orchestral partners to create over 26,000 orchestral experiences.

Key projects include:

Our Music Our Way: providing first time experiences for children and young people, helping put music at the heart of communities in Redcar and Cleveland, with young children hearing an orchestra for the first time alongside residents co-writing and performing with professional musicians. 

This involved an ongoing schools programme with Royal Northern Sinfonia, composer Michael Betteridge and teachers from Tees Valley Music Services.

Musicians from One World Orchestra and Sinfonia Viva delivered workshops at a young people’s residence in Leicester, working with local support workers. One World Orchestra has now secured funding to launch a full programme next year.