Huddersfield music graduate shares passion with Scala Radio

Musician Georgina Spray – newly graduated from the University of Huddersfield – has made her debut on national radio station Scala Radio, talking about a musical project that is very close to her heart and choosing a playlist of her favourite pieces.

Since 2018, French horn player Georgina has been a member of the National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO).

“As soon as I read about this pioneering orchestra – it’s the first national youth orchestra in the world where disabled and non-disabled musicians learn and perform together – I knew I wanted to be part of it,” said Georgina, who is autistic. She adds that joining NOYO means she has grown in confidence, motivation and independence.

When Scala Radio launched a series featuring young musicians and their orchestras, Georgina was chosen to represent NOYO and choose a playlist of classical pieces. 

In her introduction to the edition of Sunday Night Scala in the Youth Orchestra featuring NOYO, Georgina told listeners: “My story shows that even if you have a disability – mine is autism – if you work hard and take opportunities as they come along you can overcome barriers and participate in a meaningful way in the wonderful world of orchestral music.”

She then chose for broadcast works by composers including Britten, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Michael Nyman and her personal favourite, Mozart.

“Like me, he was autistic – maybe – and he is also famous for his horn repertoire so I have two connections to him!” explained Georgina.

Choosing Huddersfield

She is from Lincolnshire and began playing the tenor horn at the age of seven, moving on to the French horn – an orchestral instrument – when she was 12. Now, she has graduated with a BMus degree in Music Performance.

“I had a great time at the University of Huddersfield and I met some very inspirational people there,” said Georgina.

“The University had been recommended to me by the Lincolnshire Music Service as a great place to study music. When I went on an open day there it just felt right for me as I liked the atmosphere and the music department was well resourced with lots of opportunities for performing.”

During her studies, Georgina played in the University’s Symphonic Wind Orchestra and its brass band. She also performed with the University Orchestra and was a featured soloist on one occasion. Now graduated, she aims to continue as an ensemble musician.

Creating more opportunities for musicians with disabilities

“I can play with the National Open Youth Orchestra until I am 25. After that, I’d like to either get a job with NOYO or progress to an adult disabled-led orchestra, like the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Resound or the Para-orchestra,” said Georgina. 

She would also like to play a role in helping music education become more accessible to disabled people.

“Music can be very beneficial for everybody and disabled people should be able to participate in it just as much as the non-disabled.

“Members of NOYO are a diverse group of musicians, so the way we learn music caters for this,” continued Georgina. “For example, instead of reliance on sight-reading which would be inaccessible for blind or partially sighted musicians, the repertoire takes shape through repetition and talking.

“The ensemble plays both acoustic and accessible electronic instruments, including the Clarion, which some musicians play with the movement of their eyes.”