What OpenUp Music does

OpenUp Music is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (Charity no. 1167028) that runs inclusive music programmes for young disabled and neurodivergent musicians aged 11–25, with professional development pathways up to age 27. The organisation operates two core programmes: Open Orchestras, which supports 150+ special schools (47 active in the current year) to set up accessible ensembles, and the National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO), the world's first disabled-led national youth orchestra running across five UK regions (Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, London). Its proprietary technology product is the Clarion, a registered-trademark digital instrument app that runs on iPad and Windows devices and can be played using any body movement, including eye-tracking via compatible head-mouse hardware such as the Quha Zono. In 2024, the Clarion became the first digital instrument recognised by ABRSM through its Open Music Assessment, and the instrument was released commercially beyond the charity's own programmes via theclarion.uk.

The business model is hybrid charitable and commercial. Programme delivery to young musicians is fully subsidised: NOYO membership is free with expenses covered, removing financial barriers to participation. Income is diversified across individual donations (with tiered prompts such as £50 covering a full rehearsal, £20 wellbeing support, £10 travel), grants and multi-year funding from charitable trusts and foundations (Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, Youth Music, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Julia Rausing Trust, Marsh Charitable Trust, and ~10 others), commercial sales of the Clarion accessible instrument, branded merchandise via Fourthwall, and an affiliate shopping arrangement with Give as you Live. Programmes are co-designed with disabled musicians and delivered through partnerships with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Barbican/Guildhall School, and Treloar's School, with high-profile performance platforms including the BBC Proms.

Go-to-market is community-led, partnership-driven, and event-amplified: awareness is built through BBC Proms and venue performances, musician testimonials, partner referrals from special schools and conservatoires, and organic social channels (LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube). The headquarters is in Bristol (Streamline, Paintworks) with a small team of approximately 13 named staff across leadership, programme delivery, marketing, development, and music technology. A Board of Trustees chaired by Judith Webster (CEO, Association of British Orchestras) provides governance, and the charity holds Disability Confident Employer status and WCAG 2.2 AA website accessibility certification. No private equity or venture capital ownership is disclosed; the organisation has operated for over 10 years since formal charity registration in 2016, evolving from the earlier MUSE Project (2007).

Name

OpenUp Music

Legal name

Open Up Music

Website

https://openupmusic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OpenUp Music is a UK registered charity that runs inclusive music programmes (Open Orchestras and the National Open Youth Orchestra) for 4,000+ young disabled musicians and sells the Clarion, its proprietary accessible digital instrument playable by any body movement including eye-tracking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Music Education and Accessible Music Technology

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Music Education Hardware (Practice Tools, Metronomes, Tuners, Lab Systems) (MPAIAJAJ), Online / Virtual Music Instruction & Platforms (EDAMANAI)

Keywords

• Inclusive music education
• Accessible musical instruments
• Youth orchestra programmes
• Disability music charity
• Special education music

Headquarters

HQ city

Southend-on-sea

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-off and regular donations from individuals supporting inclusive music-making for young disabled musicians. Donation tiers include £50 (full rehearsal), £20 (wellbeing support), £10 (travel), and custom amounts.
2. Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from charitable trusts and foundations including Arts Council England, Youth Music, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Julia Rausing Trust, and others supporting programme delivery.
3. Clarion Instrument Sales: The Clarion accessible digital instrument is commercially available beyond the charity's programmes, generating revenue from individual and institutional purchases.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Open Up Music branded merchandise including t-shirts and tote bags through Fourthwall e-commerce platform.
5. Affiliate Shopping Partner: Partnership with Give as you Live generates donations when supporters shop through the platform.
6. Freelance Music Leadership: Contract fees for freelance music leaders supporting regional ensembles, such as Assistant Music Leaders at £28 per hour.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

OpenUp Music delivers inclusive youth orchestra programmes and an accessible digital musical instrument for young disabled musicians aged 11–25. Its three core offerings are Open Orchestras (helps UK special schools set up accessible orchestras), the National Open Youth Orchestra / NOYO (the world's first disabled-led national youth orchestra with five regional ensembles), and the Clarion (an app-based digital instrument for iPad and Windows devices playable with any part of the body including eye movement).

Product overview

Open Up Music operates two interconnected programmes: Open Orchestras (which helps special schools set up accessible orchestras) and the National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO), the world's first disabled-led national youth orchestra. Alongside these programmes, they developed the Clarion, an award-winning digital accessible instrument that transforms iPads and Windows devices into a playable instrument controllable by touch or movement. These products work together to provide a complete pathway from school orchestras to national-level ensemble performance for young disabled musicians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO): The world's first disabled-led national youth orchestra, pioneering a modern orchestra where talented 11-25-year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians rehearse and perform together.
• Open Orchestras
• Clarion

Products and services

• Open Orchestras A programme that helps UK special schools set up their own accessible orchestras, giving young disabled students ensemble music opportunities. Currently active in 47 special schools in the current year, with 150+ orchestras created across the UK. Designed for special schools and SEND settings.
• National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) The world's first disabled-led national youth orchestra where talented 11–25 year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians rehearse and perform together across five regional ensembles (Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, London). Free membership with expenses covered.
• Clarion (digital accessible musical instrument) An award-winning digital musical instrument app that transforms iPads and Windows devices into an instrument playable with any part of the body, including touch, movement, or eye movement (via compatible devices such as the Quha Zono head mouse). Recognised by ABRSM via the Open Music Assessment. Commercially available for purchase by individuals and institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150 inclusive orchestras created in special schools
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC NOW serves as guest performers and collaborators with NOYO in major concerts including the BBC Proms, Hoddinott Hall concerts, and national touring performances. This partnership brings professional orchestral musicians together with young disabled musicians, providing mentorship and high-profile performance opportunities.
• Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRWCMD partners with Open Up Music to run the Cardiff NOYO Ensemble, providing facilities, expertise, and connection to higher music education for young disabled musicians in Wales.
• Barbican and Guildhall School of Music & DramacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the National Open Youth Orchestra schools concert, hosting at the Barbican venue with programme development support from Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
• Bournemouth Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrchestral partner providing performance opportunities for NOYO musicians, including collaborative concerts that mix professional and young musicians.
• ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter years of pilot work, ABRSM now recognises the Clarion through their Open Music Assessment - the first time a major exam board has recognised a digital instrument. This legitimises Clarion players' musical achievements.
• BBC Ten PiecescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC Ten Pieces features music for the Clarion, expanding the repertoire available to disabled musicians and integrating accessible instruments into mainstream music education initiatives.
• Octopus LegacyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstate planning partner offering free or discounted will-writing services to supporters who wish to leave legacy gifts to Open Up Music. Partnership covers will costs up to £150.
• Give as you LiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate shopping partner enabling supporters to raise donations when shopping online through the platform's Chrome extension.
• IntoUniversityminorOthersWhere EDI Lead Dr Emily Magrath works as Director of Programme Development and Impact. Not a formal organisational partnership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Soundabout: UK charity supporting music-making with children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Overlaps directly with Open Up Music's mission of inclusive ensemble music-making for disabled young people, though focused on younger and more profoundly disabled participants.
• Drake Music: UK charity pioneering work at the intersection of music, disability and technology. Drake Music is the most established UK organisation in this niche, working with disabled musicians and developing accessible music technology — directly comparable to Open Up Music's mission and Clarion product focus.
• Skoogmusic: Edinburgh-based accessible musical instrument maker producing the Skoog, a tactile soft-playable instrument for disabled musicians. Directly comparable to the Clarion as a proprietary accessible music technology product serving the same end-user need.
• British Paraorchestra: Operating name Paraorchestra (formerly British Paraorchestra) — included separately only if it operates as a distinct entity in this listing; if consolidated, the Paraorchestra entry above captures the same organisation.
• OHMI Trust: One-Handed Musical Instrument Trust, a UK charity that commissions, designs, and supplies musical instruments playable with one hand. Comparable to Open Up Music in addressing physical-accessibility barriers to music-making, though focused on a narrower (one-handed) physical-access niche.
• Paraorchestra: Professional disabled-led orchestra founded in 2012 (formerly British Paraorchestra). Paraorchestra operates at the professional end of the same disabled-musicians space that NOYO serves at the youth level; Open Up Music's patron Dr Clarence Adoo is a founding member, evidencing direct overlap.

Others

• ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music): Major UK-based music examination board that now recognises the Clarion through the Open Music Assessment. ABRSM is a flagship partner validating Open Up Music's accessible instrument technology and provides the institutional pathway by which Clarion players can earn accredited qualifications.
• Nordoff Robbins: Large UK charity providing music therapy and inclusive music services, particularly for people with disabilities or life-limiting conditions. Operates in the adjacent disability-and-music space, more focused on therapeutic than educational/ensemble outcomes.
• Music for Youth: UK charity running national music events and festivals for young musicians, with increasing focus on inclusion (former CEO of Music for Youth is now Open Up Music's Chair). Comparable youth-music mission and infrastructure, broader scope beyond disability.
• Youth Music: UK charity funding grassroots music-making for children and young people, including those facing barriers. Youth Music is both a major funder of Open Up Music and a sector peer in youth-inclusive music education — comparable mission, complementary role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWfqIsKyuljjpYGHJU0PQxA
• Facebookfacebook.com/openupmusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/openup-music
• TikToktiktok.com/@openupmusic
• Xx.com/openupmusic

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OpenUp Music