The “Fair Warning” is to have a clean handkerchief or some tissues close at hand before you start watching the following video. It is The British Paraorchestra. From their web site:
An orchestra defined by what you hear, not what you see, the British Paraorchestra is levelling the playing field of musical excellence.
Founded by British conductor Charles Hazlewood, the British Paraorchestra is pioneering a global movement to recognise and showcase disabled musicians with extraordinary abilities. Its mission is to end the limitations placed on them, not by their physical ability but by lack of opportunity.
‘I conduct orchestras around the world, & I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of musicians with a disability I have encountered anywhere.
There is no platform for musicians with disability, very little in the way of funding – and therefore access to the often-necessary technologies: it is virtually impossible for anyone from this community to make a living as a professional musician.
Paraorchestra is a vitally needed platform, and source of work. If more paraorchestras emerge, more and more musicians will develop, will earn a living from their talent, and will of course end up in the great musical institutions of the world. Integration is the long game.’ Charles Hazlewood.
This video features The Kaos Signing Choir for Deaf & Hearing Children and the voices of ParalympicsGB.
The solo voice heard at the beginning and end of the track belongs to Lyn Levett, from the Paraorchestra. Lyn has cerebral palsy and cannot speak. With state-of-the-art technology she sings through her computer in True Colors, for the very first time.
Visit their web site, linked above, for more information and videos about the Paraorchestra.
One More Good Adventure 