Claire Henderson, Community Impact Coordinator for the North, reflects on her first year at Orchestras Live.

Before joining Orchestras Live, I worked predominantly in the visual arts. However, as a passionate community choir member, music has always played a significant role in my life. The opportunity to join Orchestras Live as Community Impact Coordinator for the North came at exactly the right time.

As I reach my one-year anniversary with the organisation, I have been reflecting on everything I have learned since I started last summer. Through singing each week with my community choir, with people from all walks of life, I experience first-hand the power of music to bring people together. It leaves me feeling uplifted and connected, and I see the same positive impact on my fellow choir members.

The sense of belonging and wellbeing I gained through my own musical experiences, is what initially drew me to Orchestras Live. The opportunity to work alongside communities, musicians and world-class orchestras to create meaningful, lasting impact through music felt incredibly exciting.

Evidencing the Impact of the Arts

Alongside Orchestras Live’s community projects, I was particularly interested in the charity’s approach to evaluating their impact. The methods we use help us to truly understand our impact on increased confidence, improved wellbeing, stronger community connections or the development of new skills.

Over the past year, I have learned many different ways to capture the stories behind our projects’ successes. For instance, in May I had the pleasure of interviewing a Year 7 student who took part in our Our Music, Our Way project. She shared with me that the project has boosted her confidence in her singing ability and she has now joined a local choir. The social aspect of the project also meant she made new friends across year groups.

Consulting with Communities

A significant part of my role involves consulting with the communities we work with. When we open up conversations, and invite people to shape projects with us, we receive bold, ambitious and inspiring ideas that are representative of the local communities we work with.

I am continually impressed particularly by our young participants contributions, whose thoughtful perspectives on access and inclusion challenge and enrich our work. Consulting local communities is not simply the starting point of a project - it remains central throughout the entire process. Listening to people, valuing their lived experience and implementing their ideas is essential to creating meaningful and lasting impact.

The Value of Partnership Working

Our work across the North involves a diverse range of partners, from Leeds Conservatoire to East Riding of Yorkshire Council. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is working collaboratively with partner organisations, learning about their communities and understanding the unique needs and opportunities within their local areas.

Together, we build the capacity, confidence and ambition needed to deliver large-scale community projects. It is always gratifying to hear from partners about the value that Orchestras Live brings to their work and the positive difference our collaborations make for local people.

The Power of Music

I have been brought to tears at every one of our projects’ final showcases this past year. Not just because of the beautiful melodies, but because I know how much the participants value the experience, and the high quality bar that orchestras set.

I have witnessed individuals pour so much of themselves into creating music alongside professional musicians and world-class orchestras. Seeing participants perform in front of family, friends and supporters, giving that extra energy and confidence that comes from sharing something they have created together, is incredibly powerful.

Over the last twelve months, I have heard countless stories about the role music plays in people’s lives. For some, it provides a safe and welcoming space; for others, it creates opportunities for social connection, creative expression or personal growth. It can also inspire young people to imagine futures for themselves within the music sector.

Looking Ahead

Having learned so much over the past year about the orchestral sector and the transformative potential of collaborative music-making, I am excited to explore further what orchestras mean to communities in the 21st century.

Most of all, I look forward to the possibilities that collaborative creation brings; the new relationships, the unexpected ideas and the original music yet to be created by communities across the North. I am excited to continue building partnerships, reaching more people and helping to deliver the profound impact that orchestral participation can have on individuals and communities.