Take part in our fantastic music groups

  • Community Orchestra

    Our fantastic Community Orchestra is a truly inclusive musical environment attracting players of all ages and abilities. Run by our team of friendly professional musicians, enjoy afternoons of brilliance and laughter as we learn great orchestral tunes together.

    Join our orchestra

  • Crawley Music Collective

    No music reading skills required. Open to all ages and abilities. Whether you play an instrument or GarageBand is more your thing, join our Crawley Music Collective to experiment all kinds of music alongside our friendlyteam of professional musicians.

    Sign up to find out more

Meet Alison from the Reza Community Orchestra

Players explain why Community Orchestra is for everyone

Meet a budding violinist from the orchestra

Spring / Summer 2025 theme: America’s Greatest Hits!

Venue: Warden Park Secondary Academy

Provisional dates:

  • Sunday 9th February:
    Rehearsal: 3 - 5.15pm

  • Sunday 16th March:
    Rehearsal: 3 - 5.15pm  

  • Sunday 27th April:
    Rehearsal: 3 - 5.15pm  

  • Sunday 18th May:
    Rehearsal: 3 - 5.15pm  

  • Sunday 21st June (Make Music Day):
    Rehearsal: 3 - 5.15pm  

  • Sunday 1st December:
    Rehearsal: 1.45pm - 3.15pm
    Concert: 4 - 6pm

We would love you to join us for every rehearsal, but appreciate this might not always be possible.

  • Reza tutors

    Ensemble Reza musicians and professional colleagues support and play alongside every section of the orchestra. This breadth of knowledge and skills is an outstanding resource for an amateur orchestra.

  • Monthly meet-ups

    Reza’s Community Orchestra rehearses at Warden Park Secondary Academy, Cuckfield once a month on Sunday afternoons. A relaxing end to any weekend!

  • Get into the groove

    Whether you’ve just started learning or you’re picking up an instrument again for the first time in many years, our talented tutors will help you get the best out of your instrument.

  • Connect through music

    Our orchestra welcomes players young and old, so you can meet new people and make new friends - Reza’s Community Orchestra is an actively inclusive and friendly place!

  • Try something new

    Reza’s Community Orchestra actively encourages a have-a-go mentality. If you can’t read music yet, you can join our percussion section where you’ll learn how to count and you’ll get to play our wide variety of percussion instruments, now including our very own set of timpani!

  • 25 flutes, 16 cellos, 8 trumpets...

    Reza’s Community Orchestra welcomes musicians of all ages and abilities. And if that means we have more instruments of one variety than most professional orchestras enjoy, then so be it!

“Just had the best afternoon sitting next to my 9-year-old boy for his first-ever proper orchestra rehearsal. He loved it! Thanks, Ensemble Reza for bringing all ages and abilities together!”
— Michelle

Meet some of our lovely tutors

  • Sarah Carvalho-Dubost

    CELLO

    Do you play any other instruments and if so, what?

    I used to play the piano and the clarinet. I would love to play my clarinet in the community orchestra one day! Although I would need to do it a few times as I really cannot remember how to play it anymore!

  • Paul Griffiths

    Paul Griffiths, an internationally renowned music educationalist and musician with 25+ years’ experience. He’s worked with the majority of the preeminent London/UK-based Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, conservatoires, and international festivals.

  • Nick Hill

    Nick is a multifaceted professional with a background in film and TV composition, music production, performance and education. With a wealth of experience, Nick is a music production expert utilising the latest state-of-the-art technology during the composition process.

  • Adam Barker

    VIOLIN

    What are your some of your favourite things to do when you’re not leading our Community Orchestra?

    I live between the Downs and the sea in an old house with a roof that always needs mending. When I’m not leading the Community Orchestra, I like to play my violin, dig the garden, swim in the sea, and go for family walks with our whippet, Archie.

  • Anna Cooper

    VIOLA, VIOLIN, ACCORDIAN, BANJO, PIANO…

    At what age did you first start playing an instrument and how did you choose what to play?

    There’s a photo of two-year-old me propped up by cushions with my doll, at the piano. I don’t think I had a choice when I started - the 50 year old me chose the viola and the accordion!

  • Toril Azzalini-Machecler

    PERCUSSION

    Toril is in his final year of studies at the Royal College of Music and has been twice finalist for the BBC Young Musician of the Year. And when he’s not doing all that, he’s our Community Orchestra percussion guru!

  • Pavlos Carvalho

    CELLO, DOUBLE BASE, GUITAR, BOUZOUKI…

    How old were you when you began playing the cello?

    Aged 6: I loved listening to my father play the cello every morning, and the vocal quality of the instrument. My dad offered me a small cello as a present, but wouldn’t let me play all day because he was teaching. Whilst I waited, I had a massive tantrum!

  • Steve Dummer

    CONDUCTOR, CLARINET

    Everyone loved the Community Orchestra Christmas Concert you conducted last year, what’s your earliest Christmassy memory?

    I think I saw Father Christmas delivering presents to my bedroom. It could have been him, a burglar, or even a dream…

“It is enormous fun playing together. The rehearsals have a great, informal and lively atmosphere. I love the inclusivity of the community orchestra, playing alongside youngsters and professionals.”

Orchestra Member

Listen to some of our previous performances

All about… Violins and violas

Ensemble Reza’s Andrew Thurgood introduces us to the ‘upper strings’ of the orchestra - the violin and the viola.

Top tips! Violins and violas

Not played your violin in a while? Andrew, Reza violinist offers some advice to get you going!

All about… Cellos and Double Bass

Ensemble Reza’s Sarah and Pavlos introduce us to the ‘lower strings’ of the orchestra, the cello and the double bass.

Top tips!

Not played your cello in a while? Sarah, Reza cellist offers some advice to get you going!

All about… Wind instruments

Ensemble Reza introduces the wind family with Susana Dias and Tom Watmough

Top tips! Violins and violas

Not played your wind instrument in a while? Steve, Reza clarinetist offers some advice to get you going!

 “The thing I like about the orchestra is that when you’re having a sad day, when you play the music it always gets you happy again.”

Connor, aged 8

All about… Trumpets

Ensemble Reza introduces the trumpet with Rob Wilson

All about… Lower Brass

Ensemble Reza introduces the trombone and other lower brass instruments with Barnaby Philpott

Top tips!

Not played your brass instrument in a while? Martijn, trumpeter offers some advice to get you going!

All about… Percussion

Community Orchestra percussion tutor, Toril Azzalini-Machecler introduces some percussion instruments

All about… More Percussion!

Community Orchestra percussion tutor, Toril Azzalini-Machecler introduces more percussion instruments!

 “Just the incentive I needed to pick up my instrument again and get practicing!”

Orchestra member