Faith Dais Neto, our Communications Officer (Brand and Content), shares her experience of attending her first Orchestras Live project.

Back in June, I set off to Bedford to see my first Orchestras Live project in action. The weather was delightfully sunny and as I sat on my train, I wondered what the experience would bring. Though I’ve always adored live music (be it musicals, festivals, or concerts), nothing was exclusively orchestral, and it’d been way over a year since I’d enjoyed the thrills of it. I was eager to soak this new experience in!

I arrived at King’s House, the beautiful setting for the culmination concert of Hear and Now. Co-produced with the Philharmonia, Hear and Now is one of our long-running community collaboration projects that brings together younger and older participants to make music. As I entered the venue, the atmosphere was warm and friendly, with musicians floating around and guests very quickly filling in the seats.

Once the event began, I was charmed by the sights and sounds! For me, there’s an indescribable feeling that comes when I hear live music. I had no words. Time felt unimportant and I only wanted to bask in the beauty of what I heard. The program was wonderfully diverse with more than I had anticipated. There were faster, upbeat moments, humorous, light-hearted moments, and even tender moments that brought audience members close to tears. A real showcase of the impact and power of music to move us.

There was a true sense of community spirit as everyone was involved and included. The confidence of the participants rubbed off onto the audience members who were more than happy to participate in the singing and dancing. I had come to be a mere spectator but to my surprise, I was swept off my feet, dancing in circles with my colleague Sam. It was the most joyous feeling! A room full of people, laughing, dancing, and loving this shared experience together.

The concert was a true celebration of creativity that left me feeling wholly inspired by what I saw. The intergenerational aspect of the project shone through without a doubt. A particular moment that resonated with me was seeing a lovely older lady perform a poem on the impact of Hear and Now in her life.

She had taken up poetry only a few years prior and her words truly warmed my heart. Through her performance, I was reminded that creativity never dies. Instead, it’s something that lives within us all, enriching our well-being. Her poise gave me a boost as I remembered that it’s never too late to start something new, and you’re never too old to learn a craft.

Likewise, there was a young pianist, Rueben, who reminded me of the significance of music education in nurturing young talent. Young people are the future of music and without them, wonderful experiences like this would end with us.

This encouraged me as I witnessed how the work we do at Orchestras Live is not just for the here and now – but for the generations who will come long after us. It’s long-lasting and I felt even more privileged to be a part of it through my role. So, as I reflect back on the concert as a whole, I’m left feeling invigorated by our work at Orchestras Live, having now seen just how meaningful it is for our participants.