ALINA is an exciting new professional orchestra for the regions of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. This orchestra will have no boundaries with regard to performance locations, the audience it engages and access to classical music and all of its many benefits.

The orchestra will perform to wide range of audiences across each chosen location with the community in mind and very much at the heart of everything Alina aims to deliver. The orchestra wants to provide joy and happiness to new audiences & communities, whilst engaging as many people as possible. We will do this through accessible events, which will break down the barriers between the orchestra audience, providing a unique and engaging experience to those experiencing classical music for the first time. These concerts will take place in a variety of sourced locations within each region, as we seek to engage and enthuse communities and to encourage maximum community engagement and give them a ‘local’ professional organisation that they can enjoy and also trust to provide excellent, yet affordable concerts: Repertoire will be specially chosen to ‘introduce’ people to classical music and encourage people of all ages – young, old, families;

The primary focus of our Outreach programme, will be to work with those living with Dementia, their carers and their families, across all three regions. As the populations of these regions age, so the number of cases of Dementia has increased.

* 15,000 have been diagnosed with Dementia in Hertfordshire, with 6,000 in Buckinghamshire, which is expected to rise to 9,000 by 2025

* Every 3 days, two people are diagnosed with Dementia in Bedfordshire

Dementia will become the 21st Century’s biggest killer: We want to make a difference and tackle Dementia!

As a way of helping care for and support people with Dementia, music has been shown to often have a positive effect, triggering repressed memories, using music as a form of ‘cognitive rehabilitation’. A programme of bespoke workshops will take place in care homes and community centre’s across our designated locations. These workshops will feature a workshop leader and musicians from the orchestra, who will lead participants through a specially designed weekly programme, using music, movement and dance to trigger repressed memories for those taking part.It is no surprise that music has so many benefits for those living with dementia. Indeed and that music is proven to improve the quality of life for those that live with Dementia –

· Better memory recall capabilities.

· A stronger sense of being in control of life.

· Changes in emotional states and mood.

· Management of pain and discomfort without drugs.

· Stimulation of interest when other approaches don’t work.

· Opportunities to engage socially with other people.

…And the effects are remarkable!

The orchestra has confirmed interest in its Outreach programme from Healthcare providers in Herts, Beds and Bucks, but to provide the dedicated programme of workshops to those that live with Dementia, takes financial resource.