A unique youth group of string players, offering creative opportunities in musical performance and professional development for all ages.
"We believe that all students, at whatever age, have the ability to coach themselves. Through workshops with other students where under supervision they can verbalise their own thoughts on performances of others in a channelled and positive way, they can be trained to really listen to themselves and effect change. These skills in turn empower future generations of musicians and teachers." (Fiona McLean 2005)

This statement underpins the foundations of the Emerging Music Leader system, a team which grows and expands each year, offering unique new skills for the enhancement of our ensembles. EML's are offered a wide range of opportunities to enrich their musical experiences, and to facilitate personal and professional development with each new project. We offer EML training opportunities to all our members, and have a policy of CRB checking all aged 16 or over who wish to take part formally in this aspect of our work. Every weekly rehearsal session involves elements of shared learning and leadership development, through listening skills practise and evaluation sessions. All are encouraged to feel an integral part of the development of JUTP Music, taking responsibility for their ensemble, setting up concerts and workshops and having a strong say in the direction of the group. Our young leaders were nominated for the Royal Philharmonic’s Society Award for Education, and appeared as the cover story in the European String Teachers magazine.

New compositions and concerto performances by members of the ensemble are always regular features of our public performances. The lack of a conductor and memorisation of a large amount of our repertoire allows students to develop their sense of communication skills and rapport, focusing awareness of each other in performance.  The self-perpetuated success of the ensemble has, undoubtedly, started to steer more young people towards pursuing music as a career. Our performers are trendy, fun and are proud of the classical music they are playing, and are extremely keen to try out new things; experiment and set themselves challenges.

Through "Joined Up Thinking Projects", our young music leaders from within South West Camerata are developing huge amounts of transferable life skills; mentoring, teaching, supporting, web design, stage management, sound engineering, creative lighting, arts management and performance development. We are delighted to have the continued support of Peninsular Arts, Plymouth Music Services, Crealy Great Adventure Park, DSCF “Tune In” year of music, Exeter School and the BBC Concert Orchestra

The team was engaged for three years working in Newton Abbot Community College with students who showed a flair for music, but who had not previously been given the opportunity.  They also led a week of workshops at Colyton Grammar School in July 2007, funded partially by The National Lottery "Awards for All" as well as Workshops in Exeter School, St Paul’s Church Newton Abbot, and for MARJON University with the Adura Ministries in Plymouth.

The Joined Up Thinking Projects Music Team, all original participants at the first Dartington Summer Youth Programme in 2005, were for the first time employed by Dartington Plus as professional tutors at the DYSP 08. Several of our EML team are now running their own projects, under the banner of JUTP Music, and have assisted with in-service training for West Dunbartonshire Music Service in Scotland.  Our first residential project in Summer 09, at Golant Youth Hostel in Cornwall, was developed and run by the EML team, who began to train the next generation of workshop leaders during this course. It was attended by 77 students aged 8 to 18 from across the UK and as far as West Dunbartonshire in Scotland, with whom we combined last summer in Edinburgh, at a joint international residential project with Yong In Youth Orchestra from South Korea.

As a result of the 2009 residential, concerts and workshops, we were asked to launch the Government’s DCSF “Tune In” year of music campaign, where we met and worked with Jazz Coleman and Gabriel Prokofiev who subsequently offered to compose a piece for us at our 2010 series of JUTP workshops, which were based at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This series of workshops culminated in a gala world premiere of his work at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2010 with Yong In Youth Orchestra from South Korea.

Our Guinness World Record attempt on Saturday 12th February 2011 for the largest ever string orchestra, was attended by 320 performers from across the south west, travelling as far as Bristol &  Truro to join us at Crealy Great Adventure Park for the day, whose ages ranged from 4 to 78!

Our next major venture is our collaboration with Penzance Youth String Ensemble where we will be joined by 6 BBC Concert Orchestra players, for the BBC Music Nation Day.

This summer, we have our residential again at Golant, where we are expecting 82 young musicians from across the country, with little or no experience to the most advanced player.

In addition to our range of educational opportunities, our performances include appearances on BBC Spotlight, BBC Radio Devon interviews, live and recorded broadcasts, performed for BBC Big Screen Last Night of the proms, International collaborations at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, BBC Children in Need, the Re Franchise party for First Great Western, Minehead Festival, Terry Pratchett’s Hogswatch Jamboree, the Twinning concert of Novorossiysk and Plymouth, Totnes Festival, and given Lecture recitals for European Teachers Association and Cardiff University

A few testimonials from participants and supporters
“A note to say thank you for such a lovely week that Lucia had at Golant. It was a great privilege to be surrounded by so many inspiring musicians and beautiful people”
“Thank you so much for yesterday. It was lovely to see what is possible with the creativity and dedication of people committed to young people. There were several magic moments when I felt the hair stand up on my neck. Congratulations for all you achieve”
“what an amazing event, there were lots of tears of joy in the room listening to all those children - lovely!"

"It was lovely to meet you yesterday, and finally put a face to the name. I'd like to thank you for all your hard work in organising yesterday. I thought the organisation was outstandingly slick, - and I realise that doesn't just happen overnight.  It was a really successful performance and wonderful to see so many young people playing strings, and all together! The sound was phenomenal and will hopefully be something that will stay with the players for many years to come."

"Just wanted to say  a massive thank you for all the hard work and prep you and a team of folk have done to get today take place. I know these things take many hours of sorting out. I guess the children will all be a bit numb with the full on-ness of the evening but it was incredible to see the rehearsal unfold and come together. I hope we had the necessary numbers for the record but I'm sure, with enough notice people would be up for it again.
It was pure gold watching you maintain the attention of all those musicians - getting them to do what you wanted, more or less first time! You have such a lovely manor too making the fun of gathering together for music accessible to all. Thank you so much."

“Joined Up Thinking Projects, and their associated Chamber Orchestras (South West Camerata, Tutti and Cameratinis) are essential for the future of high quality Classical music in the UK. The legacy of brilliant musicians, workshop-leaders that they have already produced in their first few years of existence is remarkable. As a composer I am very inspired to write for such a talented and progressive group; but I am aware that they need more support to achieve their full potential. Given the right exposure and support, Joined Up Think Projects can show young people, parents, and educators in other parts of the UK just how well Classical Ensemble and Orchestral playing can inspire, motivate and educate young people. The quality of the musicianship alone is something that cannot be argued with.” Gabriel Prokofiev Feb 2010.