Charlotte Greensmith, one of our first Community Impact Coordinators, writes on the lessons she's learned during her time with us. She reflects on how collaboration, youth voice, and inclusivity have shaped her work and deepened her commitment to widening access to orchestral music.

During my time at Orchestras Live, I've been privileged to meet and work with some of the country’s best orchestras and most inspiring communities, sharing touching moments of music-making with each one of them.

As I reflect on my time, three core principles have underpinned my experience: collaboration, youth voice, and inclusivity. I leave with an even stronger commitment to widening access to orchestras, having witnessed firsthand the impact of Orchestras Live's work.

Collaboration building strong foundations

Collaboration has been the foundation of my work. One of our key priorities is building relationships with partners across Northern England to create orchestral opportunities with historically underserved communities. I leave Orchestras Live with the value of collaboration deeply imprinted.

The development of the Our Music, Our Way partnership has been a highlight of my time here, reinforcing how true collaboration creates lasting change. Redcar & Cleveland presents a unique landscape where post-industrial heritage intersects with rural communities, making local expertise essential for producing authentic and sustainable work.

Through strategic partnerships with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Tees Valley Music Service, and Royal Northern Sinfonia, we've broadened our creative thinking and successfully put young people's voices at the heart of the work. This approach has built a programme that continues to flourish, demonstrating the power of partnership working.

Amplifying youth voice

I am passionate about the power of young people’s voices and how we must include them to ensure that our work is relevant to the communities we serve. With our partners at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, we worked to develop a thriving Young Producers group as part of the annual Withernsea and Hornsea concert in 2024.

These young participants played a key role in shaping the performance, and their opinions and decisions were the key to the project’s success. They decided what pieces were programmed, directed the promotion strategy and helped build stronger community relationships. These young people challenged us to think in completely new ways, resulting in a project that was more wide-reaching and impactful than ever before.

It's easy to shy away from involving young people in the decision-making process. However, incorporating strong youth voice into projects is crucial to ensuring that our work is not just relevant to the communities that we work with, but also belongs to them. We must remember that young people are ‘experts by experience’.

Bringing music to all corners of the region

Orchestras Live recognises the creativity and brilliance found in all corners of the country. Through my work across the North, I have had the privilege of working with amazing communities from Barrow-in-Furness all the way to Withernsea. Orchestras Live’s commitment to working with all communities, even those that may seem ‘too difficult’ to access, has heavily influenced my time in the role and demonstrated how our work becomes richer through inclusivity. It is our duty to ensure that orchestras work for the communities that they are a part of, and not the other way around.

My time as Community Impact Coordinator - North has reinforced my belief in the power of orchestras to inspire, connect, and transform—not just for traditional audiences, but for everyone. As I say farewell to Orchestras Live, I carry with me a genuine commitment to collaboration and innovation, key values that my time here has shown me to be essential for taking authentic steps toward ensuring that orchestras truly are for everyone.