First of all who are you and what do you do?

I am Emma Mapplebeck and I am the conductor the Sunderland Youth and Community Orchestra.

When and why was Sunderland Youth and Community Orchestra set up?

Sunderland Youth and Community Orchestra was originally set up as a youth orchestra; a place where young people could come together and experience playing as part of an orchestra no matter their standard of playing. Nothing much has changed about this structure over the years apart from the age limit.  We found that children who play sometimes have parents who play instruments. Some parents decided they would join in rehearsals and some of our “grown up” members did not want to leave! This makes for a great dynamic within the orchestra. I myself started off in the Youth Orchestra many many years ago!  We often find players leave for University and then return and or progress into the Sunderland Symphony Orchestra. We also have members of the Sunderland Symphony Orchestra that come to help and enjoy playing in the SYCO.

How has it been so far?

In the last few years the orchestra has gone from strength to strength, however we are always looking for new players!

What kind of events/performances have you been a part of?

The most recent event we were apart of was on the Empire alongside the Sunderland Symphony Orchestra when they performed Peter and the Wolf.  We took part in their orchestral ‘Storytelling’ through Music, workshop day which resulted in a performance of Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg on the Sunderland Empire.  It was a really good experience playing to such a big audience. Every year we play Christmas songs in the Sunderland Bridges Shopping Centre, it’s a great morning and the players come together and have lots of fun promoting the orchestra.

What does the future of the orchestra look like, both short and long term?

So short term we have a Christmas concert at St Aidan’s Church Grangetown on Sunday 15th of December at 5:30pm.  Next year we are planning a ‘Classical’ concert. (dates tbc.)

Why do you enjoy working with the orchestra?

I love working with this orchestra because it is full of such a wide range of ages and abilities.  Despite this range of differences there is such a bond and sense of community within the orchestra.  I asked some of our players what got them out of bed on a Saturday morning and I got the usual humorous comment of, “The Jaffa Cakes!”.  However, when they thought about it, the answers were, “Playing music together” and “Playing a wide variety of music”. The one answer that made me so proud was, “We are just like a family.”  For me to see our players grow in music is such a wonderful reward and I am so thankful to be in this privileged position.

If someone wanted to get involved with the orchestra how could they? Why should they?

Please please come and see us and join, we are such a friendly bunch and we have so much fun along the way.  If you are learning an instrument it is such a lovely way to be a part of a musical community. Just email me on emma.hanson123@gmail.com or drop into Trinity Church on Stockton Rd.  We rehearse Saturday mornings 10am till 12noon.

Alicia Chadwick, 14.

“My name is Alicia Chadwick and I am 14 years old. I am in Year 10 at Durham High School where I gained a Music Scholarship.  Music has been in my life since being 6 years old when I asked for a pink violin for Christmas, joining Sunderland Youth Orchestra without being able to play one note but welcomed and encouraged to join in.  I soon realised I really wanted to learn to play the violin properly and started having music lessons, first passing the Music Medals – Copper, Bronze and Silver then moving on to taking Violin Grades 1 – 7 with 3 Merits and 4 Distinctions – starting with Grade 1 up to and including Grade 6 (Distinction) and Grade 7 (Merit) and now working towards my Grade 8 also Grades 1 – 5 in Music Theory with 3 Distinctions and 2 Merits.  Today I play in my School Orchestra – I am now leader of Sunderland Youth Orchestra and have been a member of Sunderland Symphony Orchestra for the past three years.

Being a member of an Orchestra you get to play in some exciting places, I have played at The Sunderland Empire, Sunderland Minster, The Bridges and The Sage. I feel I am a valued team member helping my confidence a lot and have made lots of new friends.”

Rachel Blackhall, 16.

“It was 2009 and I was 6 years old – begging to be allowed to start violin lessons. With uncertainty, my parents agreed and I started lessons at school. I progressed rapidly and did my grade 3 in 2011 and then worked my way through the grades, achieving grade 7 in 2017. I am now working towards grade 8, which has been delayed considerably due to the stress of schoolwork.

I started playing in Music for All orchestra at the age of 7 and stayed until I was 13. I loved being around people who had the same enthusiasm for music as I did and this helped me improve my playing.

I have now progressed into Sunderland Symphony Orchestra. Violin has taken me out of my comfort zone which has helped me grow in confidence and provided me with many opportunities. I never think I’m very good, so I hate performing alone – but somehow, I built up the courage to do a duet accompanying schools singing in Durham Cathedral. It was worth it!”

Jack Stead, 14.

“I started playing the drums when I was 10, having been slowly learning the piano since I was 5. After my Grade 4 Drums exam, I began to get more interested in Jazz drumming and Funk & Soul music and was listening to a lot of Classical music because of the piano – and discovered classical percussion. I became my school’s principal drummer in Year 8 and started playing percussion for the Sunderland Youth & Community Orchestra this last April. The Sunderland Symphony Orchestra then kindly let me come along for a trial two weeks before their Peter & the Wolf performance at the Empire. They invited me to play the bass drum for them in the concert… So now I’m also playing snare, cymbals, triangle, wood block, glock and tubular bells. My favourite drummers and percussionists are John Bonham, Buddie Rich and Evelyn Glennie. And I’m currently trying to work out how to fit in also learning the marimba.”