For 30 years, RPO Resound has been at the forefront of using music-making to enrich the lives of people in communities across the UK and internationally. Throughout 2023 we’re marking RPO Resound’s 30th Anniversary by exploring some of its revolutionary strands of activity. We’re hearing about the impact Resound has had from musicians, practitioners and participants and looking ahead to the next chapter.
STROKESTRA®
STROKESTRA® is a pioneering rehabilitation programme for stroke survivors that harnesses the power of creative music-making in a group. The programme was developed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) in partnership with Hull & East Riding Community Stroke Services, part of City Health Care Partnership, and utilises a range of specially adapted musical techniques to address the complex needs of stroke survivors and their carers. From physical rehabilitation work involving functional movement, grasp and mobility to social integration supporting confidence-building, communication and renewed sense of self, the programme supports patients and their carers to work towards rehabilitation holistically, setting and meeting goals that matter to them. You can read more about this programme via rpo.co.uk/strokestra.
May is Stroke Awareness Month and also marks the beginning of a new term of STROKESTRA® with stroke survivors in Hull. RPO Principal Contrabassoon Fraser Gordon has been involved with the programme right from its initial pilot project in 2015:
‘The impact of participating in therapeutic group music-making is very much underestimated. STROKESTRA® shows the power of this wonderfully, and has done so right from the beginnings of the project. It challenges and invites stroke recovery patients to become ensemble players: strengthening physical weaknesses, rediscovering lost cognitive functions and increasing both independence & social confidence through music making. Each patient experiences individual and unique improvements, sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly, and the inspiration this gives the group as a whole is very special indeed.
‘As a musician, it has had a high level of personal impact; STROKESTRA® has increased my confidence in working with diverse community groups as well as challenging various perceptions. It has brought me the full spectrum of emotions from tearful sadness to absolute joy and shown me and hopefully others that what we do has enormous resonance for all corners of society.’
Fraser Gordon, RPO Principal Contrabassoon
In the eight years that STROKESTRA® has been running it has had an enormous impact and resulted in tangible benefits for the many stroke survivors, carers and practitioners who have participated in the scheme. It has been featured at a range of national presentations and events, and been nominated for many awards in both the arts and health sectors. During the Covid-19 pandemic the programme went online, offering free resources and live, interactive sessions for stroke survivors from around the country to keep gently active from the safety of their homes. STROKESTRA® has garnered international interest, with consultancy and dissemination events reaching from Japan to Canada, and ongoing partnerships such as a learning exchange programme in Orlando, USA, in partnership with the Dr. Phillips Centre for the Performing Arts and AdventHealth.
‘I have thoroughly enjoyed it all; it has been fantastic from start to finish. It gave me respite from my problems and I don’t ever want to forget this part of my stroke journey. It brought me a little bit of myself back. It was the first time I had done something on my own since my stroke.’
Tracy, stroke survivor and STROKESTRA® participant
What’s next for STROKESTRA®?
STROKESTRA® continues to deliver benefits through its flagship programme in Hull, and is currently the subject of a formal research project with University of Hull to examine the impacts and mechanisms of the programme. International work continues to take STROKESTRA® around the world, bringing RPO musicians and the power of music to anyone who can benefit.
Discover STROKESTRA® sessions this summer
Generous support for STROKESTRA® is provided by Dunhill Medical Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Crucially, access to RPO Resound is free for participants, but every project requires funding, and we are extremely grateful to the many Trusts and Foundations, corporates and individuals who have supported our work over the last 30 years. If you think you could be interested in supporting RPO Resound, please get in touch.
Discover more at rpo.co.uk/resound or contact Huw Davies, Deputy Managing Director: 020 7608 8825 /
RPO Resound: Celebrating 30 years of enriching communities through the power of music
30 years of RPO Resound: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)