Young talent took centre stage at Lighthouse Poole on Sunday as sixty of the region’s most talented young musicians came together in a unique Orchestral Training Day organised by Poole Society for Young Musicians.

The charity enlisted the help of BSO assistant conductor Enyi Okpara as well as some highly qualified local professional orchestral musicians and teachers to take sectionals at the start of the day and play side by side in performance. All the young people play to Grade 5 or above and were split into strings, wind/brass and percussion groups to work on four short pieces of music and one symphonic movement.

“The Training Day is all about developing musicianship skills and performing alongside professional musicians in some great repertoire,” explains Alison Kay, a professional viola player and founder-director of Poole Society for Young Musicians.

“Enyi lodges with a member of our music committee so he had heard about our work with young people and introduced himself to me. He said he wanted to do something to help, and the Orchestral Training Day took shape – he has been so supportive.

“And of course we are very grateful to Lighthouse for working with us on this project.”

Alison, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours for her services to the Arts and young people, is passionate about music education and founded PSYM in 2010 to increase performance opportunities for young people. The Society organises a range of events including masterclasses, rehearsals and workshops, as well as chamber performances, and boasts a broad mix of professional musicians among its coaching staff.

As director of PSYM, Alison also works closely with BCP’s SoundStorm music education agency.

“We are grateful for SoundStorm’s support for activities including our Monday evening Music Academy, which delivers early development music provision for young people through instrumental lessons and fun music group activities. SoundStorm also supports our popular annual Summer Music Courses.”

The Orchestral Training Day is also supported by Wessex Young Musicians Trust.

“There has been a worrying decline in the number young musicians playing instruments to a high standard, particularly in state schools,” says Alison.

“Very few BCP schools offer GCSE Music, and even fewer have A Level, so it would be really beneficial  to see a lot more primary school youngsters continue with instrumental learning beyond First Access Schemes so that events on the scale of the Orchestral Training Day can become more common.”

The benefits of learning to play a musical instrument are well documented – improving wellbeing, brain development, creativity and discipline, as well as the social aspect of playing.

“It is the best distraction from playing on phones!” adds Alison.

“Most of these young musicians receive instrumental lessons privately, but playing an instrument up to an excellent level should not be an elite activity. I believe that it should be accessible to everyone, although of course only a few musicians will decide to become a Music graduate and go into the profession.

“A few of our own young musicians pursue this pathway and go on to study at world class conservatoires or universities, so we invite these excellent musicians back to Poole whenever possible to perform for us.

“Meanwhile, we are delighted to be able to offer around 60 young musicians, mainly from BCP state schools, the possibility of taking part in this high quality music event at Lighthouse.”

:: Poole Society for Young Musicians presents its next concert on Sunday 16 March from 4.30pm at St John's Church, Broadstone when seven of its alumni will perform in Ensemble Aurea alongside young professional musicians and soloists Savva Zverev (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, first violin) and alumna Polly Bartlett (BBC Young Musician of Year Wind finalist). Look out for the interval cakes! Tickets and info: www.broadstonemusicseries.info 

To find out more about Poole Society for Young Musicians visit Poole Society For Young Musicians | Facebook