The UK’s first disabled-led regional youth orchestra is appealing for young disabled people from Cornwall who would like to get involved to get in touch.

The South-West Open Youth Orchestra is the first of its kind, working with young musicians with additional support needs who play a range of musical instruments, including an accessible musical instrument called the Clarion that can be controlled simply by the movement of a musician's eyes.

Bradley Warwick has cerebral palsy and uses this especially adapted musical instrument in the orchestra. He said: “Being part of an orchestra is new to me. I love it, and feel a kind of freedom and belonging. Disability should never be a barrier to enjoying music and getting involved.”

Now OpenUp Music, the Bristol-based charity behind the orchestra, have teamed up with the Cornwall Music Hub to encourage hundreds of young disabled people who attend secondary or special schools in the area to get involved. Support is available to provide orchestra members with an accessible musical instrument, music tuition and support to get to rehearsals and performances.

Tanya Moore, manager of the Cornwall Music Education Hub said: “Our hub is committed to improving access to music making for all young people and we are really excited to be working with Open Up Music to promote the South West Open Youth Orchestra. It is our long term ambition to provide more opportunities like this locally and enable more young people to make music.”

The orchestra has been making waves across the country with performances at Bristol Cathedral, the Palace of Westminster and as part of BBC’s Music Day at Bristol’s Colston Hall.

Barry Farrimond, CEO for OpenUp Music who has created many of the instruments used by the orchestra, said: “This orchestra is showing that anyone with the drive and determination to succeed in music can do so if given the right support and training - we are really hoping to encourage more young disabled musicians to join.

“Our team works with each musician to find or create a musical instrument that is right for them. These instruments often use sophisticated infrared cameras to convert facial movements, including minute movements of the head or eyes, into expressive musical notes.”

Anyone interested in auditioning for the orchestra can get more information at openupmusic.org/apply; by emailing info@openupmusic.org; or calling 0117 914 0917.