CHULMLEIGH College Orchestra recently took part in The Devon Music Education Hub’s (DMEH) project with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), which involved an afternoon of rehearsals culminating in a high profile evening concert at Exeter University Great Hall on January 30.

Musicians from across the region rehearsed works selected from the BBC Ten Pieces with BSO conductor Maxime Tortelier, who flew in from Paris especially in the morning (grandson of cellist Paul Tortelier!).

The snow caused transport difficulties and only 14 musicians, rather than the planned 36, managed to get there – transported by parents rather than the school bus!

However, the whole event was still a fantastic experience for those involved, joining 150 other school musicians to form a massed orchestra playing the Horn Concerto by Mozart, Toreador’s Song by Bizet and the Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg.

Pupils also got the chance to watch “Resound” in action, the world’s first professional classical disabled-led ensemble embedded with the BSO.

Their performance was of a very high musical standard and pupils were in awe of the skills of all musicians, in particular, James Rose the conductor, who has cerebral palsy but conducts with a baton attached to his glasses, and the flute player, who is blind and memorises a braille score. Other ensemble members are autistic or have physical disabilities.

Comments from Chulmleigh pupils included: “It was great fun and a good experience being in such a big orchestra. I also really enjoyed seeing the disabled lead orchestra, which was very inspiring. My favourite part was when we performed.” Martha Newman, Trumpet.

“I really enjoyed being part of an orchestra so big, playing alongside so many young musicians. I learned to listen to all the other players and to watch the conductor,” Lucy Webber, Flute.