Wed, Feb 4, 2026
Last week, six participants of our Academy were not on stage, but in a classroom at Amsterdam’s Visio school for visually impaired children. Together they made music, composed new pieces and concluded the project with a performance at the school. The project shows what it is like to share music with those who do not normally visit the concert hall.
For several years now, the Academy of the Concertgebouw Orchestra has been collaborating with Amsterdam’s Visio school. The pupils are introduced to new instruments and discover rhythm and sound in a playful way.
This project is made possible by the Frances Fund, one of the Commemorative Fund of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The Frances Fund supports the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Academy, Concertgebouw Orchestra Young and other important projects of our orchestra.
Viola player José Carlos explains: “What you give to the pupils, you get back. That’s why trust is so important, but also encouraging creativity.” Double bass player Charles adds: “The pupils enjoyed it, and so did we. We gained a lot of respect for the teachers, for their patience and their stamina.”
During the performance, it is clear how much everyone is enjoying themselves. The audience moves to the rhythms and claps enthusiastically. The finale is Shostakovich's Second Waltz, with students playing the bassoon, cello and clarinet, instruments they learned to play just one day earlier. A warm and prolonged applause follows.
