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The project provides unique emotional support to vulnerable people, many of whom were already suffering from loneliness before Covid-19.We were featured on BBC News, in the Times, the Independent, the American media NBC News and France Musique. We have had amazing feedback from people saying that having a musician perform especially for them brightened not just those minutes but lasted much longer as a wonderful memory: 

Live socially distanced concerts

for people shielding during the crisis

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During these weeks of isolation, would you or anyone you know like to have a concert by a local musician?

Since the start of the lockdown, we have organised 100 concerts all over the UK. 

We follow Government guidelines as this service provides care to vulnerable people. The musicians (maximum 2) perform outside houses and play or sing from a doorstep, garden, or courtyard, keeping a strict safety distance. 

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'Pay-what-you-can' or free performances available, just message us here or  

Please pay-what-you-can or donate here:

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                 Before the concert:

        "I am 49 but in a vulnerable

      group due to my genetic illness.

    I have suffered severe depression.

 I don't have anyone coming round, I

 feel myself getting darker thoughts."

                     Afterwards: 

   "Amazing concert! I felt so happy

         for the first time in 7 weeks,

             I was crying with joy."

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                “My young daughter 

          is blind, has severe epilepsy,

      is in respiratory failure and other

   conditions but one thing for sure: she

 loves music! She's so lucky to have had

 her own personal concert. She was in 

   her element, music is so calming and

     therapeutic for her. It was nothing

          short of a little blessing, the

                memories are forever

                           with us.”

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       "It was absolutely brilliant. 

    My friend said it was the most

  thoughtful thing anyone has ever

    done for her. She was brought

       to tears and over the moon.

              We are so grateful..." 

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CALL TO ALL MUSICIANS

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Are you frustrated by how suddenly you had to stop doing what you do best, performing live? Or are you saddened by how little you may have been able to provide support to vulnerable people during the crisis? Or do you miss the unique connection between you and your audience? 

Why not fulfil all these needs in one work opportunity? Playing live music to isolated or vulnerable people and providing them with emotional support. Professional musicians are paid. Amateur musicians are also very welcome to join and are paid travel expenses if needed.

SUPPORT VULNERABLE PEOPLE THROUGH MUSIC

The Orchestra is a registered CIC, a social enterprise supporting vulnerable people through music. Knowing the power of music and the positive therapeutic effects it has on people, we wanted to do something about the terrible situation arising from the outbreak of Covid-19. 

The most isolated people in society are the most likely to become more isolated because of the situation. Having someone play music especially for them lifts their spirits and helps them feel more connected to other people.

Since the start of the crisis, we have been matching musicians with self-isolating people who have reached out to us.

We have organised 100 concerts so far all over the country. We follow Government guidelines as this service provides care to vulnerable people and when the musician is very local and can walk to the place it counts as part of their daily exercise allowance. The musicians (maximum 2) perform outside someone’s house, keeping a strict safety distance which is either on the pavement, in a garden or in  a courtyard.

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THE RIGHT SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE POWER OF LIVE MUSIC

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It is vital to respect the need for social distancing in order to save lives. But we need to remember the length of the gap is 2 metres, not 2 kilometres. 2 metres allows people to remain safe. By staying physically apart from each other, we end up too distant emotionally, and our social bonds threaten to break. Nothing can compare with the power of live music. Technology surely helps us to stay connected somehow in these troubled times, but will never replace the intimacy and warmth of a real human exchange. Not a physical exchange of course, but hugs don’t need to be physical, they can be psychological, artistic, musical or human. Eye contact is also very important and can create a special bond between two people separated by a few metres.

These live concerts revealed that isolated people don’t only need material support. They need to feed both their body and their soul. And that’s what we artists provide them with thanks to live performances.

HEART-WARMING TESTIMONIALS

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We have received heart-warming and moving testimonials from people who we’ve organised the concerts for. Many people said that the performance made their day, week or even year, and was a glimpse of sunshine in these gloomy weeks of isolation. A moment which has the power to boost their morale and refuel their resilient souls. And for the most vulnerable, it has been something even more valuable than that. It may literally help save their lives, not just that one action but the sum of acts of kindness from the community. How many people are in this tragic situation? How many of them could even sink into a dark tunnel ending in depression or even worse?

The feedback from the musicians has also been very positive. They told us how special and worthwhile such an experience has been for them too. If you would like to be involved, get more information or even if you would like to do this outside our organisation, as part of your freelance work, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to share ideas. We believe that the more musicians do the same, the better it is for all. We just released this song involving musicians and audience members who have taken part in the project, and the chorus tells all of us that it is now: 

“Time to dare, dare to care, care to share our love”. 

TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS:

"I really enjoyed the concert last night and you guys are amazing. I can listen to your music everyday."

A member of the refugee choir at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants

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"We would like to thank you and the World Harmony Orchestra very much for playing at the Islington Holocaust Memorial Day event.The music composed by Ilse Weber and the poem you set to music were incredibly moving and the performance was very impressive."

Cllr Una O'Halloran, Mayor of Islington

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"This experience was strong, rich and full of humanity. I keep in my heart the faces of those men and their glances, the five of you listening to the misery of this world and ready to act. The moment when everybody started to sing and dance will remain in my heart always. For one second we forgot that we were in a camp. It was wonderful."

Virginie Robilliard, international violinist

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"Huge moment of sharing between inhabitants of Grande-Synthe, refugees, the WHO musicians and Le Recho!"

Damien Careme, Mayor of Grande-Synthe

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"I found the music and the readings very moving and a reminder, as if one needed a reminder, of the devastation of war and "man's inhumanity to man."

An admirer and supporter who attended our concert "Soldiers of Peace"

Gianmaria Bandiera, Events Manager

at HRAC Amnesty International UK

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                 Jaz O'Hara,

Founder of The Worldwide Tribe

'Damascus Chef'

SCHUBERT: "The world resembles a stage on which every man is playing a part."

MOZART: Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius."

BRITTEN: "The whole of my life has been devoted to acts of creation and I can not take part in acts of destruction."

We would love to hear from you:

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Please fill our contact form if you would like to be added to our mailing list or if you have ideas for new collaborations with us.

Our work does not receive regular financial support and relies a lot on the generosity of people like you. If you would like to become one of our friends and support our work, please donate here.

The funds will go directly towards the costs of future concerts (orchestral and 'Cuppa' ones) and music lessons for people who cannot afford them, and also enable us to pay our professional  musicians who often play for free, hire bigger venues, reach out to more people, and spread harmony through music!

Any amount will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much!