Blab Music
Bristols National Open Youth Orchestra to Feature Eye-Controlled Clarion at BBC Proms
The National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) will perform at the BBC Proms for the first time on Sunday, 9 August 2026, at Bristol Beacon. The ensemble will showcase the Clarion, an accessible instrument that can be played with eye movement or a tablet, developed by the Bristol‑based company Open Up Music.
NOYO is a pioneering inclusive orchestra that brings together 11‑ to 25‑year‑old musicians with and without disabilities. The group rehearses and performs together, arranging new music that accommodates a wide range of playing abilities. According to the organisation’s website, the ensemble’s repertoire changes each year because the membership does, creating a fresh sound with every season.
The Clarion was created by Open Up Music to address the physical barriers that many traditional instruments pose to disabled musicians. The device can be played with any part of the body, including eye movement, and can be operated via a tablet or an iPad. The instrument’s design allows performers to produce expressive music without the need for bowing, plucking or blowing, which can be difficult for some users.
Alessandro Vazzana, 28, will be the Clarion soloist for the Proms. He will perform the first solo concerto written specifically for the instrument, a piece that has not been performed publicly before. Vazzana said, “I hope they listen to great music and don’t just think about disabled musicians.” The concerto is part of a broader effort to expand the Clarion’s repertoire and demonstrate its musical possibilities.
Evie Read, 19, is another Clarion player in NOYO who uses a tablet to control the instrument. Read told reporters that she wants to show people with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions that they can achieve the same musical goals as non‑disabled peers. She added, “I want to show people that anyone has the potential to thrive in music. I hope that they can go back knowing that they are capable of making music no matter what it looks or sounds like and maybe pick up an instrument themselves.”
Bea Hubble, programme manager for NOYO, highlighted the inclusive ethos of the orchestra. She said, “One of the things I love about running an inclusive orchestra is that the instrument is secondary to who we are as people.” Hubble explained that the group’s performances are “different every year because there are different people every year.” She added that the Proms will be a milestone for the musicians, noting that a member had said, “It’s really cool we’re doing one of these because all their friends have done Proms and we’ve never done before.”
The BBC Proms 2026 season runs from 17 July to 12 September and includes a three‑day residency at Bristol Beacon. The Proms at Bristol will feature six concerts across the weekend, with five held at the Beacon and one at St George’s Bristol. The National Open Youth Orchestra’s appearance marks the third time the venue has hosted the Proms.
The inclusion of the Clarion at a high‑profile event such as the Proms signals a growing recognition of accessible music technology within mainstream classical programming. It also provides a platform for disabled musicians to perform alongside their non‑disabled peers in a prestigious setting, potentially inspiring other ensembles to adopt similar inclusive practices.
As the Proms conclude, NOYO will continue to develop new works for the Clarion and other accessible instruments. The ensemble’s next public engagement will be a series of workshops and masterclasses aimed at encouraging young musicians with disabilities to explore orchestral participation.
In summary, the National Open Youth Orchestra’s debut at the BBC Proms will feature the Clarion, an eye‑controlled instrument that exemplifies the potential of inclusive music technology. The performance, led by soloist Alessandro Vazzana and supported by Clarion players Evie Read and others, underscores the orchestra’s commitment to demonstrating that musicianship transcends physical limitations.
NOYO is a pioneering inclusive orchestra that brings together 11‑ to 25‑year‑old musicians with and without disabilities. The group rehearses and performs together, arranging new music that accommodates a wide range of playing abilities. According to the organisation’s website, the ensemble’s repertoire changes each year because the membership does, creating a fresh sound with every season.
The Clarion was created by Open Up Music to address the physical barriers that many traditional instruments pose to disabled musicians. The device can be played with any part of the body, including eye movement, and can be operated via a tablet or an iPad. The instrument’s design allows performers to produce expressive music without the need for bowing, plucking or blowing, which can be difficult for some users.
Alessandro Vazzana, 28, will be the Clarion soloist for the Proms. He will perform the first solo concerto written specifically for the instrument, a piece that has not been performed publicly before. Vazzana said, “I hope they listen to great music and don’t just think about disabled musicians.” The concerto is part of a broader effort to expand the Clarion’s repertoire and demonstrate its musical possibilities.
Evie Read, 19, is another Clarion player in NOYO who uses a tablet to control the instrument. Read told reporters that she wants to show people with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions that they can achieve the same musical goals as non‑disabled peers. She added, “I want to show people that anyone has the potential to thrive in music. I hope that they can go back knowing that they are capable of making music no matter what it looks or sounds like and maybe pick up an instrument themselves.”
Bea Hubble, programme manager for NOYO, highlighted the inclusive ethos of the orchestra. She said, “One of the things I love about running an inclusive orchestra is that the instrument is secondary to who we are as people.” Hubble explained that the group’s performances are “different every year because there are different people every year.” She added that the Proms will be a milestone for the musicians, noting that a member had said, “It’s really cool we’re doing one of these because all their friends have done Proms and we’ve never done before.”
The BBC Proms 2026 season runs from 17 July to 12 September and includes a three‑day residency at Bristol Beacon. The Proms at Bristol will feature six concerts across the weekend, with five held at the Beacon and one at St George’s Bristol. The National Open Youth Orchestra’s appearance marks the third time the venue has hosted the Proms.
The inclusion of the Clarion at a high‑profile event such as the Proms signals a growing recognition of accessible music technology within mainstream classical programming. It also provides a platform for disabled musicians to perform alongside their non‑disabled peers in a prestigious setting, potentially inspiring other ensembles to adopt similar inclusive practices.
As the Proms conclude, NOYO will continue to develop new works for the Clarion and other accessible instruments. The ensemble’s next public engagement will be a series of workshops and masterclasses aimed at encouraging young musicians with disabilities to explore orchestral participation.
In summary, the National Open Youth Orchestra’s debut at the BBC Proms will feature the Clarion, an eye‑controlled instrument that exemplifies the potential of inclusive music technology. The performance, led by soloist Alessandro Vazzana and supported by Clarion players Evie Read and others, underscores the orchestra’s commitment to demonstrating that musicianship transcends physical limitations.
