We spoke to Anne Sheard of Holme Valley Orchestra to find out more about their passion for music, their involvement in the orchestra, and how music makes lives better.

Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember: I began learning the piano at the age of nine, and not long afterwards, the cello at school. I took the opportunity and soon found myself playing in the school orchestra, discovering the joy of making music with others. Over time, life got in the way of music, and the piano and cello were put to one side. Some time later, I rediscovered my love of playing, and the enjoyment of being part of an ensemble. Being surrounded by other musicians reminded me just how much I had missed it.

In 2021, I found a new musical home with Holme Valley Orchestra. Since then, rehearsing and performing with the orchestra has been a real pleasure. Holme Valley Orchestra has given me not only a renewed passion for music but also a strong sense of community. Picking up my instruments again later in life has been incredibly rewarding, and sharing the experience of making music with others is something I’m very grateful for.

Holme Valley Orchestra itself has a long history in the area. The orchestra began in 1991, when conductor Jim Morgan brought together a small group of around 14 musicians through local adult education, and in 2001, it became a community organisation - keeping the membership accessible and affordable, whilst broadening what the orchestra could do. Since then, the orchestra has continued to grow, performing widely while remaining firmly rooted in the local community. Over the years, the group has appeared at events including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and has also travelled abroad to perform.

Today, Holme Valley Orchestra brings together musicians of different ages, backgrounds and experiences, all united by a love of playing music together. For many members of Holme Valley Orchestra, that shared experience reflects exactly what we mean when we say that music makes lives better.

Playing in a community orchestra is about far more than the music itself. It brings people together, with a focus on something creative, and fosters friendships, which often develop naturally through the shared experience of rehearsing and performing.

Music can also be a powerful way to support wellbeing. Playing in an orchestra requires concentration, listening and emotional expression all at once. That focus can help people switch off from everyday stresses, and many musicians leave rehearsals feeling refreshed and uplifted.

Community orchestras are also places of continual learning. Holme Valley Orchestra includes players with a wide range of experience, from those who have returned to their instruments later in life to others who have played for many years. Working together on new repertoire, improving technique and preparing for concerts creates a real sense of progress and shared achievement. Performing for an audience after weeks of rehearsal is always a special moment.

Music also allows people to express emotions that can be difficult to put into words. Playing a powerful piece of orchestral music can feel uplifting, moving or even cathartic, and experiencing that collectively makes it even more meaningful.

Many community musicians, like those at Holme Valley Orchestra, first discovered music when they were young – through school lessons, youth orchestras or local opportunities to learn an instrument. Supporting a youth music charity helps ensure that today’s young people have those same opportunities, particularly access to instruments, lessons and ensemble playing that might otherwise be out of reach.

For Holme Valley Orchestra, donating some of the proceeds from concerts is also a way of giving something back to the wider community. Community orchestras rely on local audiences, rehearsal spaces and volunteers, and supporting organisations like Yorkshire Youth and Music help strengthen the cultural life of the region.

For us, it invests in the future of music itself. The young people supported today may become the performers, audiences and community musicians of tomorrow.

For Holme Valley Orchestra, supporting Yorkshire Youth and Music simply reflects the values at the heart of community music-making: sharing music, supporting learning and ensuring that the joy of playing together continues for generations to come.

Find out more about Holme Valley Orchestra: hvo.org.uk/

Save the date for their upcoming Summer Concert, on 4th July at The Huntsman Inn: hvo.org.uk/watch-this-space-4-2/