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“We’re asking our very large ensemble of musicians to be like a giant mobile human jukebox.”
A dollop of love
Bristol is home to Paraorchestra – the world’s only large-scale orchestra of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians. As they gear up for their biggest commission to date, Millie Bruce-Watt chats to their conductor and artistic director
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bright shining light in the music industry today is, without a doubt, Paraorchestra – the world’s only integrated orchestra of professional disabled and nondisabled musicians. Founded in 2012 by award-winning international conductor and musical revolutionary Charles Hazlewood, the Paraorchestra made its debut performance at the Paralympics’ closing ceremony in London. As the world’s eyes watched an orchestra of 18 world-class musicians play alongside Coldplay, a dream was born, a ripple of hope was sent across the world and a powerful message played out – music is a birthright not a luxury. Almost a decade later and the Paraorchestra has grown into a 90piece ensemble with around 40 musicians identifying as disabled. From Glastonbury Festival to Carlyon Bay, the orchestra has been spreading the word, encouraging musicians to stand up and be counted. They are undeniably a shining example of the joy and the brilliance that emerges when positive change is achieved. This year, the Paraorchestra is bringing its biggest commission to date to the streets of Knowle West. Described as sonic street food, SMOOSH! will see a core of 20 musicians from the Paraorchestra ensemble join 50 community wind and brass players and a troop of dancers performing tub-thumping karaoke tunes on the move. As rehearsals kicked off, we caught up with the conductor, who told us all about the ‘smooshability’ of their mobile ‘masseoke’; why he’s decided to work exclusively with the Paraorchestra; and the exciting plans that lie in wait. “One of the trademark aspects of the wonderful Paraorchestra is that we pride ourselves on working in so many different contexts and in so many different kinds of styles of music and approach and nature of show,” says Hazlewood. “This is an interesting one in that we’re asking our very large ensemble of musicians to be like a giant mobile human jukebox. It’s bringing hopefully a great big dollop of love to the streets of Knowle West. It’s not often that you get world-class wind, brass and percussion players and a giant crazy band banging out Kate Bush, Adele, Basement Jaxx and all this music that’s in our 30 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE
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bloodstreams. After the year that we’ve all had, I really hope it will bring people out to their front gardens with that sense of celebration of joy, the joy of humanity in one great big outpouring.” The ensemble will start at Filwood Community centre on 17 September and make its way through the suburban streets, inviting everyone and anyone to join the celebrations. But what does SMOOSH! mean? “I love looking at the etymology of strange words and I have for a long time known about the word smoosh,” Hazlewood says with a laugh. “It’s basically American English and it’s got two meanings which sort of relate to each other. The first meaning... if you cook a cauliflower and you cook it really thoroughly so it’s really soft and then you want to mash in some grated cheese the process of smashing in some grated cheese is called smooshing. The second meaning... if you see a little kitten that’s freaking adorable and you just want to cuddle it, you want to smoosh it. It’s such a tactile word and hopefully the production is just a glorious great big smoosh, which should open up Knowle West and its smooshability.” The journey In his 30-year career, Hazlewood has conducted some of the greatest in the classical repertoire with some of the best orchestras in the world. He’s been a significant presence on British television and radio for decades and his innovations continue to attract new audiences to orchestral music as he reimagines what an orchestra is. The Paraorchestra, however, is clearly held in a special place in his heart. Hazlewood talks with such passion, speed and spirit that it’s not hard to be carried along with him. His mission is clear and concise – he wants to bring the ever-more modern joy of orchestral music to the 21st century audience and, in doing so, change lives and communities for the better. “Paraorchestra is the only orchestra in the world that is a reflection of modern society. The starting point came for it when my youngest daughter was born with cerebral palsy. Very quickly it got me thinking, I’ve had a 30-year career conducting orchestras around the world and I
