The Able Orchestra was a special project that enabled two groups of young people from Fountaindale School in Mansfield and Outwood Academy, Portland in Worksop to work alongside two of our Hallé musicians, Bea Schirmer and Chris Emerson, and professional artists from County Youth Arts, Si Tew, Ronnie Sampson and Bec Smith, to compose a piece of music and digital imagery inspired by the BBC Ten Pieces.

Whilst the students from Outwood Academy used acoustic instruments, the young people from Fountaindale School were able to make use of a variety of adaptive and assistive technology, including iPads, to create their music.

The project was produced by County Youth Arts, Orchestras Live and the Hallé, and funded through Nottinghamshire Music Hub, Orchestras Live and Arts Council England.

The students gave a public performance alongside 15 Hallé musicians at the Palace Theatre in Mansfield at the start of May 2016, and everyone involved in the project was delighted to be invited to perform as part of the Ten Pieces II Prom in July 2016.