NEXT WORKSHOP - OUR FIRST WEEKEND WORKSHOP!
SATURDAY 20TH AND SUNDAY 21ST MAY 2023
WESTMINSTER, NEAR VICTORIA STATION
GUSTAV HOLST - THE PLANETS SUITE
This workshop is open to anyone and funds raised will contribute to improving wellbeing in the emergency services through music.
If you would like to take part please fill in the form on the 'join us' page or email enquiries@bluelightsymphony.org
This promotional video was produced in collaboration with
Welcome to the website of the Blue Light Symphony Orchestra, the UK's only orchestra for all Emergency Services personnel. Our players are drawn from a wealth of talent hidden inside the UK's Police Forces, Fire Brigades and Ambulance Services, the military and other emergency services such as Mountain Rescue, Cave Rescue and the RNLI. We are a registered charity whose aims are to promote and support music-making in the emergency services to aid mental well-being and to promote the use of music therapy to treat severe mental health problems such as PTSD, chronic stress and anxiety.
If you wish to support us financially, please visit our Gofundme page by clicking here and you can also support us by shopping at smile.amazon.co.uk. Use the link at the bottom of this page.
If you would like to volunteer to help us grow, we would love to hear from you. Please use the form on the join us page. We are currently looking for:
- Graphic designer
- Web developer
- Social media officer
- Orchestral manager
- Librarian
About the Orchestra
We are a registered charity in England and Wales, number 1184720. Our Orchestra provides opportunities for musicians from across the emergency services to come together and play music but we are also expanding our work in the following two areas:
- Encourage more local music-making in the emergency services by providing start-up grants and advice to anyone wishing to start a local choir or instrumental group where the majority of participants are emergency services personnel.
- Work with leading Music Therapy providers to make MT available to emergency services personnel to treat PTSD, anxiety and stress.
Visit the charity page for more information and to donate.
The main orchestra meets for a day-long workshop once a term. Emergency workers often find that shift work prevents them from being able to commit to the weekly rehearsals of a traditional orchestra which means that they have stopped playing music regularly since starting their careers. This means they are unable to enjoy the scientifically proven mental health benefits of group music making. The BLSO removes this barrier by providing workshops which require no regular commitment and our success can be measured by the fact we have over 100 emergency services musicians on our mailing list. We are also working with the UK's leading Music Therapists to research and develop a Music Therapy treatment program for emergency workers suffering from stress and anxiety-related disorders. Find out more about Music Therapy and what we are doing on the Charity page.
Please go to the Join us! page if you would like to get involved.