Skinner de Bruin ParaOrchestra - Melbourne Youth Orchestras

Skinner de Bruin ParaOrchestra

The Skinner de Bruin ParaOrchestra is a performing ensemble for young people with disability aged 15 to 25. They will play ensemble repertoire, explore improvisation, soundscapes and new compositions. This year the ParaOrchestra is excited to welcome neurodivergent composer Nat Bartsch who will work with our young musicians to write a new work to premiere at the Winter School Concert.

The ParaOrchestra is open to anyone with a disability or chronic illness or who is deaf or neurodivergent, playing standard or adaptive instruments. ParaOrchestra staff are experienced in inclusive music education and adaptive musical instrument design and will work with individual participants to support their music making.

Eligibility: Anyone with a disability or chronic illness, or who is deaf or neurodivergent.

Standard: Open to anyone who plays an instrument or who has begun to explore music making on an instrument

Age range: 15 to 25 years old.

Instruments: All instrument types are welcome.

The Skinner de Bruin ParaOrchestra is Funded by the City of Melbourne Arts Grant.

Dr Anthea Skinner
Dr Anthea Skinner
Dr Anthea Skinner is a disabled musician and music researcher who specialises in designing adaptive musical instruments and equipment. Anthea works at the University of Melbourne where she is the …
Dr Anthea Skinner is a disabled musician and music researcher who specialises in designing adaptive musical instruments and equipment. Anthea works at the University of Melbourne where she is the Inaugural Senior Lecturer in Disability Creative Performance. She is also the founder and coordinator of MYO’s Adaptive Music Bridging Program.

Dr Leon de Bruin
Dr Leon de Bruin
Dr Leon de Bruin is Associate Professor in Music at the University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music, and co-ordinator of the Master of Music Performance Teaching degree (MMPT). As ASME …
Dr Leon de Bruin is Associate Professor in Music at the University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music, and co-ordinator of the Master of Music Performance Teaching degree (MMPT). As ASME National Past President he is a staunch advocate for quality music education in Australia, and music teacher education world-wide, as an executive of ISME Instrumental and Vocal Teaching Commission. His research spans pedagogy, music psychology, and teacher training. He has published over 100 articles, chapters, and edited books, including Musical Ecologies: Instrumental Music Ensembles around the World (Routledge); Revolutions in Music Education (Lexington) and Guerrilla Music (Lexington); Disability and Musicking: Resistance, Defiance, and Innovation ( Bloomsbury), and Music Education, Social Justice, and the Global South (Bloomsbury).