Be Together 2025

This year, Bristol Ensemble proudly presented another successful round of ‘BE Together’ concerts – a heartwarming project that brings live orchestral music, creativity and connection to older people across Bristol and the surrounding region.

So far in 2025, we’ve brought music to 7 care homes and 2 dementia services, reaching just over 165 older people in a range of settings.

Bristol Ensemble Musicians with Roger Harper (President of The Grateful Society)

Our intimate concerts featured a beautiful mix of classical, popular, and theatre music, performed by a singer, pianist, violinist and cellist from the Bristol Ensemble. Each programme was carefully curated to spark memories, offer comfort, and bring joy.

“The music triggers something in their memories, it’s so special to see”

Care Worker

We were delighted to see such moving responses from residents singing along to favourites like “Over the Rainbow”and “We’ll Meet Again,” to spontaneous dancing that filled the room with energy and laughter!

“I’ve never heard *resident* sing before, I didn’t realise she had such a great voice!”

Care Worker

“When can you come again?!”

Resident

Looking Ahead With Preludes Music

A new strand of the BE Together project is launching this autumn and it’s all about connection across generations.

We’re excited to introduce an intergenerational music initiative, bringing together older people and children from our Preludes Music programme in a shared community setting. Our aim is to develop a meaningful and replicable model for collaborative, musical engagement between young and old.

Preludes Music, Bristol Ensemble’s education arm, currently works with over 4,000 local children each year.

We want to bring some of these children together with older people and create opportunities for meaningful collaboration and interaction via music.

We are grateful to The Grateful Society for their support towards this project.