Music and the Deaf - Young Adults

Music and the Deaf is proud to have formed the Deaf Youth Orchestra of West Yorkshire, which in its first year was supported by Arts Council England, Yorkshire. The Orchestra's first performance was on 2nd July at Leeds College of Music. This was a fantastic evening! Over 50 young deaf people aged 9 to 23 came together to give a magical performance. They truly gave their all and the performance was of an amazingly high standard. Feedback from the young players, the musicians who have coached them and members of the audience was really positive - see the Praise page for some lovely comments.

Music and the Deaf is proud to have won the Huddersfield Daily Examiner 2007 Community Arts Award for the involvement of young deaf players from the Kirklees area. Well done to everyone involved. Councillor Liz Smaje, Cabinet Member of Kirklees Council said “Congratulations on winning this award. You thoroughly deserve it. I am so impressed that you have achieved so much in such a short timespan. You have led the way, once more, in enabling deaf people to participate in music.”

Plans are now all in place for the current academic year. Playing days at which the deaf instrumentalists come together to make music and to meet each other will be held on

Saturday 23rd February from 14:00 to 16:00 – Bradford Music Service, Future House, Bolling Road, Bradford

Saturday 12th April from 14:00 to 16:00 – Ryburn Valley High School, St Peter’s Avenue, Sowerby, HX6 1DF

Saturday 14th June from 14:00 to 16:00 venue to be confirmed

The sixth and final playing day will be held at Leeds College of Music on 28th June 2008 and the Deaf Youth Orchestra will give its second major performance that evening in The Venue. The rehearsal will be from 14:00 to 17:00 with the concert beginning at 19:30.

Any Deaf young person who plays an instrument and is interested in joining the orchestra should contact Danny Lane.

Plaudits for the Deaf Youth Orchestra 2006-2007

"I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity of working with the Deaf Youth Orchestra. I thought the children were absolutely brilliant last night and I thoroughly enjoyed the concert, it was a heart-warming experience and one which I shall never forget." Woodwind Tutor

"Well done to you all, what a fantastic night. It is so good to see all the students enjoying themselves and producing such a good nights entertainment. Many thanks for all your hard work in making this happen and for all the efforts you and your team have put in over the years. Same time same place next year!!! " Teacher of the Deaf

"What a superb evening you masterminded last night. It’s hard to comment on the effect of the concert because it was so powerful on so many levels. Emotionally it was both heart-wrenching and life-affirming with too many ‘special’ moments to mention. So many smiles, so much fun and laughter and such thoughtful concentration demonstrated through each individual’s playing. Musically it was hugely demanding, with the skills that take many musicians years to build being demanded of those young people in just a few months. It was so right to have the David Bedford commission as the backbone of the whole event and the ‘multi-media’ approach to the performance gave even more direct communication with the audience. The soloists and groups performed with amazing creativity and focus and giving the young people the skills to lead some of the music making gave a truly fresh and spontaneous vigour to the proceedings." Thom Meredith

"Wakefield Music Services has been delighted to support such an important organisation as yours. Both Phil and I were so impressed with the performance on Monday night. The look of sheer pride on all those young people's faces was something I will remember for a long time. They all thoroughly enjoyed the limelight and just for once it was THEIR show and they weren't sharing with anyone else." Geraldine Gaunt, Head of Wakefield Music Services