Musicians gallery
Get to know us...

Oscar
Vibraphone, xylophone, piano
Me in three words: happy, excited, ok
What I like about being in NOYO: I like the people there. I like playing with the orchestra.
More about me: I like jazz music, 60s music, rock and roll and 80s music. My favourite film is Mary Poppins Returns. I like hiking a lot.

Jamie
Saxophone
Me in three words: creative, expansive, flying
What I like about being in NOYO: I like being able to play music without being restricted by the conductor. I also feel much more relaxed in a smaller group (I have fewer opinions to worry about).
More about me: I’m fascinated by storytelling in all its forms and would like to write and direct my own films.
I enjoy puzzles and have to restrain myself so I don’t finish them without my dad.
I play Dungeons and Dragons with friends online and make playlists for my characters.

Ale
Clarion
Me in three words: happy, singing, friendly
What I like about being in NOYO: I am excited! I like being together, meeting everyone and playing music, learning new music and making new patterns on my Clarion.
More about me: I enjoy going to concerts, theatre, rugby and football. I love singing and listening to music. I was born in Rome and speak Italian – I like going back to Italy and to see my family in Scotland.

Nimat
Viola
Me in three words: bubbly, empathetic, adventurous!
What I like about being in NOYO: I love the friendly and supportive atmosphere; I am constantly being encouraged and pushed to do my best and believe in myself, which is beneficial to me as most often than none, I am my own worst enemy!
More about me: Some things I enjoy apart from music are photography, hiking, dancing, yoga, and trampolining. I adore animals and the environment and am very passionate about learning about the world.
I am currently studying BMus Music at Royal Holloway, University of London and will be studying MMus Music Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with an annual scholarship in September 2021!

Lizzie
Violin
Me in three words: creative, friendly, disorganised!
What I like about being in NOYO: It’s a really friendly and creative atmosphere so I can explore lots of musical styles and have fun too!
More about me: I love all types of music and would love to see more people in NOYO.

Georgina
French horn
Me in three words: anxious, hardworking, conscientious
What I like about being in NOYO: This is the first orchestra I have ever fitted into. I normally feel like I don’t fit in but I do in NOYO.
More about me: I have just graduated with a degree in Music Performance from the University of Huddersfield. I am now at home working on our family farm. As well as music I enjoy cross-stitching, sewing and watching football (I support Lincoln City as my hometown team).

Sally
LinnStrument
Me in three words: chaotic, musical, bubbly
What I like about being in NOYO: The thing I most enjoy about NOYO is the fact that it removes all the barriers that musicians with a disability may face and allows them to quite simply make music in an orchestral environment.
More about me: Outside of NOYO and music, I also greatly enjoy playing a Paralympic sport called boccia, playing chess, and my studies!

Ben
Trombone
Me in three words: happy, relaxed, sociable
What I like about being in NOYO: Playing music with other people.
More about me: I’ve been in Theatre Shows including Pantos and I’ve been an extra in the movie The Festival.

Ben
Seaboard Rise
Me in three words: creative, funny, musical
What I like about being in NOYO: Playing my Roli keyboard synth. Playing new music. Learning different instruments.
More about me: I love my iPad playing loopers and yousician. I love playing my Bopits but Bopit Maker is best. I love being in college. I love jammin’ and sound recording.

Sophia
Violin
Me in three words: gentle, determined, shy
What I like about being in NOYO: I love playing music with others, especially in an environment where everyone is accepted and valued for who they are.
More about me: I enjoy baking, participating in drama productions, walking and anything to do with being in nature.

Leo
Clarion
Me in three words: funny, kind, happy
What I like about being in NOYO: I am happy about NOYO.
More about me: I am currently at college. I like iPad and games.

Torin
Tenor horn
Me in three words: happy, kind, enthusiastic
What I like about being in NOYO: I like coming together and playing music with friends and learning all the music. I like to jam and learn new skills and improve my confidence. And it is fun!
More about me: I love music and DJ’ing and mixing. I play golf, volunteer at a cafe, do dog agility and play Boccia and Table Cricket. I love walking my dog and am passionate about the environment and looking after the planet.

Holli
Harp, piano, timpani
Me in three words: music, harp, friends
What I like about being in NOYO: Playing works commissioned for us and playing music with friends.
More about me: I’ve been playing harp since I was 9 years old. My dream jobs would be playing in an orchestra pit and recording music in studios. My favourite composer is Prokofiev.

Connor
Cello, piano, guitar
Me in three words: tall, friendly, gentle
What I like about being in NOYO: NOYO has given me lots of experience of playing with other people rather than playing on my own. I like this because I like being sociable and it’s marvellous. The timing is the challenging part but I’m really excited about the music in general.
More about me: I used to play the violin then I moved on to the piano. I have been learning cello since I was 10 years old and now I am teaching myself the guitar.
I enjoy running long distance. I play for Hampshire disability cricket. I’m very tall and very fast at bowling. I go to college, doing Skills for Independence and Work and will apply to do a horticulture course next year.

Sam
Trumpet
Me in three words: fun, kind, trumpeter
What I like about being in NOYO: I like making friends, playing different varieties of music and learning new skills.
More about me: I like to construct Lego, I have a puppy called Daisy and I like life!

Leo
Percussion
Me in three words: enthusiastic, creative, positive
What I like about being in NOYO: Helps me to be a great musician and nice to learn together with talented young musicians.
More about me: I have a huge knowledge of general sports (especially Rugby & Football). I am a volunteer ranger of South Downs National Park.

Francesca
Violin
Me in three words: enthusiastic, friendly, diligent
What I like about being in NOYO: I enjoy being part of a unique orchestra and playing among other young people who share my love for music. We play a range of exciting and challenging music and are given opportunities to explore different musical approaches and techniques to the pieces we play. Everyone in NOYO is so kind and encouraging!
More about me: I also play piano, flute and sing and appreciate all genres of music. I really enjoy all other aspects of the performing arts as well. I have just started a music degree studying violin performance.

Elle
Guitar
Me in three words: energetic, Rhino, confused.com
What I like about being in NOYO: I’ve enjoyed going to the auditions and rehearsals in the new environment with the other musicians.
More about me: I will be the most random person you’ll ever meet and I have played the guitar for 6 years. And I can also play many other instruments.

Rhys
Trumpet, cornet
Me in three words: individual, bizarre, kind
What I like about being in NOYO: I like the inclusive nature of the organisation and how they are aware of the members’ health, both physically and mentally, and suit the activities to that.
More about me: I am an avid trainspotter, amateur historian and am bad at describing myself!

Ellen
French horn
Me in three words: busy, happy, fun
What I like about being in NOYO: NOYO is amazing because of the quality of music we make, the variety of people and the fun we have in rehearsals. It is an inspirational group which is reflected in the audiences when we play.
More about me: I love music in all forms, playing in everything from brass bands to orchestras and folk bands. In the little spare time I have I also enjoy art, baking and unicycling!

David
Classical accordion
Me in three words: thankful, curious, resilient
What I like about being in NOYO: I love creating music with people.
More about me: I love life, accordion, piano, organ, Bach’s baroque music, old hymns by Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts, folk and jazz tunes.
I enjoy performing solo piano improvisations for Heart n Soul at the Barbican Hall and Royal Festival Hall, and love accompanying Royal Academy of Music Juniors at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club on piano, and the London Youth Folk Ensemble on ‘folk’ accordion at EFDSS and LSO St Luke’s.
I also meditate on the Bible, row outdoors, exercise at gym bootcamps, help out as a volunteer at Snooker For Health & Friendship at YMCA, a disability multi-sports club.
I go ‘train, tree & bird’ spotting and play with our English-speaking pet budgies who are on my YouTube account.

Luke
Alto Saxophone
Me in three words: friendly, funny, anxious
What I like about being in NOYO: Being in NOYO has been a new start for me but I got used to it in the end. Most of all, I like how the instruments play in harmony. It makes me feel relaxed, I enjoy it so much. It really is fun to play in a group with other musicians.
More about me: I like listening to all sorts of music. I also play the keyboard. I can play the drums, and used to play the trumpet. Outside of NOYO, I like to play Minecraft (especially the note blocks) and sometimes watch YouTube. I like building Lego sets. I enjoy riding my scooter and going on bike rides with my Dad. I love the outdoors, especially when it involves high ropes and zip wires.

Rhian
Flute, piccolo, alto flute, piano
Me in three words: hard-working, passionate, principled
What I like about being in NOYO: It is really exciting to be part of an orchestra that is so diverse, where everyone is accepted for who they are and valued for what they bring to the ensemble.
More about me: As well as playing the flute I enjoy composing, arranging, singing and playing the piano. I like musical theatre, spending time with my grumpy pony Rosie, running and baking.

Oliver
Harmonica, synthesizer
Me in three words: Harmonica player, photographer, filmmaker, retro gamer (sorry that’s four things - apologetic rebel!)
What I like about being in NOYO: I’m filling gaps in my music knowledge and learning new music with interesting musicians.
More about me: Previous film work includes ‘Hometown’, ‘Forgotten Fortresses: Hidden Histories’, and ‘Blind Photography Experiment (Parts 1, 2 & 3)’.
I am currently working on ‘The Visitor’, a Drake Music/PRS Foundation commission which will be presented at The Barbican in March as part of a disability arts festival.