Sounding out Surround Sound

This year, as part of our 40^th anniversary celebrations, NCO has introduced a new chamber music project into the curriculum. Surround Sound incorporates short performances curated and created by our young musicians, which are shared with fellow members and other audiences on the courses.

We invited members from our senior ensembles – Main, Under 13 and Under 12 Orchestras – to share their experiences of Surround Sound.

“My Surround Sound group was made up of brass musicians, and we played an arrangement of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. It was a great success and I felt proud to be part of not only the brass section but also the Main Orchestra, with parents, friends and family watching us and enjoying the music. I think that Surround Sound was a great idea because we were able to perform pieces outside of the orchestral repertoire, giving us the opportunity to express ourselves even more.”

Seb Foxwell
Trumpet, Main Orchestra

“I was lucky to be a part of the group that did the very first public Surround Sound performance, in the foyer at Colston Hall. The best thing about Surround Sound was give the audience a taster of the outstanding quality of music that was yet to come inside of the auditorium.

I have learnt there is no limit to how creativity you can apply to one piece of music. I think that everyone who took part in Surround Sound would agree with me in saying that by interacting with the audience in the foyer it boosted our confidence and prepared us all for the concert.”

Sakura Fish
Violin, Under 13 Orchestra

"Surround Sound has taught me that performing in an orchestra is very different compared to performing in chamber groups, and that listening to your peers is the key to producing a successful piece. It also let me express a very different style of music to what we were performing as an orchestra and helped me to work more closely with my friends. It is a totally unique experience."

Lilly Ho
Violin, Under 13 Orchestra

"I think one of the great things about NCO is that it is a massive community and yet it still feels like a closely-knit family, and Surround Sound has shown us, in an even greater way, how to work a team to produce one, harmonious sound. I am going away with a new ability to understand the music rather than to simply look at sheet music and play."

Thomas Ng
Violin, Under 12 Orchestra

“The thing I enjoyed most about Surround Sound was how it made me feel. I have been able to get to know the other girls in my section and share my thoughts and feelings about music with them. We all grew in confidence and I am so happy that NCO has come up with this idea. It is a great example of how music has the power to bring us all together.”

Jess Foxwell
Flute, Main Orchestra