Middlesbrough Open Orchestra

A group of school pupils in uniforms and young people in white t-shirts sitting in a circle with some teachers. A girl is sat playing cello in the centre of the circle.

Weekly at Middlesbrough Town Hall

Middlesbrough Open Orchestra is a collaboration between Musinc, Beverley School, Priory Woods School and Tees Valley Music Education Hub. Students from Beverley School and Priory Woods School have weekly music sessions in school as well as coming together regularly to play as an orchestra at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

The young people play music from a wide range of genres, including classical, contemporary and pop. They particularly enjoy creating soundscapes and original compositions alongside their orchestra leader, Ben Hopkinson.

Since its inception, Middlesbrough Open Orchestra has been gaining both regional and national recognition for championing inclusive music making. The orchestra has performed at events such as Music For Youth’s Together For Music Festival 2025 in Birmingham, Music & Drama Education Expo 2023 in London, Music Mark National Conference 2022 and North East Culture Awards 2022 in Newcastle, and Middlesbrough Council Civic Awards 2021.

It has also collaborated on compositional projects such as reimagining and co-creating the piece ‘Falling’ with composer Kate Whitley for the Open Orchestras repertoire, and composing ‘Journey Through a Changing World’ in response to artist Layla Curtis’ film footage for the Digital Score research project with University of Nottingham. In 2025, the young people composed the soundtrack for Webb-Ellis’ artwork ‘Let’s Make It Faster’ commissioned as part of the exhibition ‘The Secret Lives of Bottle of Notes: Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen‘ at MIMA. In the same year, the orchestra also contributed to the sound installation ‘Peace Amongst Thorns‘ by artists Gareth Hudson and Toby Thirling, as part of the Most Creative Station project at Middlesbrough Railway Station.

N turned 18 on a Friday of this year, the day we rehearse as a full ensemble at Middlesbrough Town Hall. He told the school music teacher and myself that if it was not for Open Orchestras rehearsal, he would have not come into school on his birthday, saying “music makes me feel free”. The effects of this project are palpable and profound.

School Teacher at Priory Woods School

N turned 18 on a Friday of this year, the day we rehearse as a full ensemble at Middlesbrough Town Hall. He told the school music teacher and myself that if it was not for Open Orchestras rehearsal, he would have not come into school on his birthday, saying “music makes me feel free”. The effects of this project are palpable and profound.

School Teacher at Priory Woods School

Middlesbrough Open Orchestra’s noted projects and collaborations include:

‘Lets Make It Faster’, 2025, Two-screen film and gallery installation, Webb-Ellis. Commissioned by MIMA as part of ‘The Secret Lives of Bottle of Notes: Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’

Performance at Together for Music 2025 (Music For Youth Festival), Birmingham Symphony Hall

‘Peace Amongst Thorns’, 2025, Sound installation at Middlesbrough Railway Station, Toby Thirling and Gareth Hudson

‘Journey Through A Changing World’, 2024, composition as part of Digital Score research project with University of Nottingham and artist Layla Curtis

‘Falling’, 2024, co-creation composition workshops with composer Kate Whitley and musician Clarence Adoo

Performance at Music and Drama Education Expo 2023, The Business Design Centre, London

Open Orchestra Open Day, March 2022, Middlesbrough Town Hall

About Open Orchestras

Open Orchestras is behind the largest community of inclusive ensembles in the UK, in partnership with Music Education Hubs and special schools. The award-winning, groundbreaking programme makes learning an instrument and playing with others – independently, expressively and in real time – accessible to all 8-18 year-old disabled students.

You can find out more about the programme on the Open Orchestras website.