Newham teens play with the LSO and Nicola Benedetti

Five young musicians from Newham Music Trust joined the London Symphony Orchestra and violinist Nicola Benedetti at an open air concert in London last month.

Trombonist Finnbar Keating, 17; Violinist Anna Cullen, 17; Double bassists Abigail Ogunjuyigbe and Cleo Onyewumbu, both 13; and Violist Jayro Viapree, 18, took to the stage at Trafalgar Square as part of the LSO On Track initiative.

The music-making project gives young instrumentalists across East London the rare experience of performing live with the world-renowned orchestra.

Jayro said: “I’m so pleased that I got selected to take part in LSO On Track – it was such an amazing experience playing to 10,000 people in Trafalgar Square with London Symphony Orchestra! The sound of the applause when we finished was the best!”

LSO On Track is an ongoing partnership between London Symphony Orchestra’s learning & participation department (LSO Discovery) and ten East London music hubs including Newham Music Trust.