New ‘ParaOrchestra’ for young musicians with disability seeks members for first cohort
A new music performing ensemble for young people living with disability is currently seeking members for its inaugural cohort.
Established by Dr Anthea Skinner and Associate Professor Leon de Bruin from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, the Skinner de Bruin ParaOrchestra is open to anyone aged between 15-25 with a disability or chronic illness, or who is deaf or neurodivergent, playing standard or adaptive instruments.
The Skinner de Bruin ParaOrchestra was recently established as part of Melbourne Youth Orchestras’ Winter Program 2026 through funding from a City of Melbourne Arts Grant. The project builds on the success of the Adaptive Music Bridging Program led by the same project team, which recently won the Access and Inclusion Award at the 2025 Melbourne Awards.
Members of the ParaOrchestra will play ensemble repertoire and explore improvisation, soundscapes and new compositions.
This year the ParaOrchestra is excited to welcome neurodivergent composer Nat Bartsch, currently a PhD candidate at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, who will work with the young musicians to write a new work to premiere at the Winter School Concert in July 2026.
ParaOrchestra staff are experienced in inclusive music education and adaptive musical instrument design, and will work with individual participants to support their music making.
All instrument types are welcome, and the ParaOrchestra is open to musicians at all stages of musical development.
Dr Skinner said: "We are so excited to launch the ParaOrchestra, the first ensemble of its type in Australia. The ParaOrchestra will showcase the amazing talents of young people with disability and embrace new ways of learning and playing music."
Associate Professor de Bruin said: "As a 'living lab’, the ParaOrchestra crafts pedagogic and educational adaptations that innovate inclusion, access, and opportunity for all learners and teaching practices."
Dorian Jones, CEO of Melbourne Youth Orchestras, said: "Inclusion doesn’t happen in isolation. That’s why we’re proud to have the ParaOrchestra embedded at Melbourne Youth Orchestras, welcoming young musicians from all backgrounds to explore music in a vibrant learning community."