Fresh from a sold-out show with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre at the Royal Opera House, the New Note Orchestra has been announced as one of the 2023 winners of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Recognition

The group is one of 262 local charities, social enterprises, and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work has been recognised due to the incredible volunteer work that all members of the orchestra do in breaking down the stigma of addiction and bringing communities together to celebrate the incredible achievements of people in addiction recovery. 

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, and following his accession, His Majesty The King emphasised his desire to continue the Award.

Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a social support network for disabled adults in Banffshire, a charity using a refurbished pool as a community hub in South Wales, volunteer doctors providing pre-hospital care across rural Cumbria, and a village renewal organisation promoting sustainability, equality, and social inclusion in County Antrim.

Award winning

Representatives of New Note Orchestra will receive the award crystal and certificate from Andrew Blackman, Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex, later this year. In addition, two volunteers from the New Note Orchestra will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2024, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Molly Matheson, founder of the group, says, “We are delighted to receive this award. It is a clear recognition of the hard work that the individual members of the orchestra have put into making this unique project work. Many of the people in the group have faced serious adverse life experiences, such as homelessness and depression, and all have been impacted by addiction. However, the joy that they have brought to audiences, with their skill and professionalism in music-making, does much to lift the stigma that many people recovering from addiction face.”

You can see a video of the New Note Orchestra and Fallen Angels Dance Theatre below