The idea
The Sherry youth chamber orchestra is Fulham-based with a target group of 30 players aged 8 to 18, five of whom will be deserving children fully-subsidised with instruments and tuition supplied. Orchestral training will be provided by our team of graduates and guest professors from RCM, RAM, Trinity and Guildhall.
Community: Free concert performances for the public will be staged throughout the year in local churches and community centres.
Education: In cooperation with the Tri-Borough Music Hub, the orchestra will provide supplementary music education in the form of performances, presentations and workshops in local schools.
Health: Working with Kings College and Chiltern Music Therapy, volunteers from the orchestra will provide comfort and joy to the sick, elderly, mentally-challenged and new mothers in local and regional medical institutions, as part of their social impact for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
What we'll deliver
- Subsidised orchestra training for 5 underprivileged children
- Expanded provision of music education in state schools
- Life-enhancing therapy for aged, sick, expectant and mentally-challenged people
- Free concerts for the community performed by talented young musicians
Why it's a great idea
1. Music is well-known to be advantageous to everyone, supporting children's educational and personal development, unifying society regardless of ethnic and regional differences, enhancing the cultural wealth of our community, and bringing therapeutic benefits to the sick, elderly and mentally-challenged
2. In 2019, only 27% of the Department of Education's targets for music teacher recruitment were met. On September 1, 2025, the Metro newspaper reported that 23% of school children were "bounced out" of music education by the unaffordable cost of instruments. In our own borough, 16% of children fall outside the socio-economic bracket which has cultural access to music.
3. Music therapy eases conditions including anxiety, depression, dementia, Parkinson's and strokes, suffered by 70% of care home patients. Music also enhances foetal development and positive birthing experiences for expectant mothers. Lastly, music helps to improve everyday functioning for mentally-challenged people.
Steps to get it done
- First volunteer performance Kings College Hospital Maternity Unit
- Agree joint strategy with Tri-Borough Music Hub
- First volunteer performance at Sir John Lillie School
- Publicise applications for sponsored places in our Youth Orchestra
- Order instruments for successful candidates
- Agree joint strategy with Chiltern Music Therapy
- Christmas 2025 workshop and concert
- Lunar New Year 2026 workshop and concert
- Open to public Chinese dumpling making and tasting event 2026
- Easter 2026 workshop and concert
- Free Jazz Cafe performances monthly throughout the period
