Our story
Upbeat Orchestras grew out of LMTO Upbeat, an innovative music education programme created by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra (LMTO).
LMTO — the London Musical Theatre Orchestra — is the UK’s specialist orchestra dedicated to musical theatre. Founded in 2015 by conductor and producer Freddie Tapner, LMTO has performed at major venues including the Royal Albert Hall, London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane, working with some of the leading artists and musicians in musical theatre.
In 2021, LMTO launched Upbeat, with a simple but ambitious idea: give young people who had little or no previous musical experience the chance to pick up an instrument, join an orchestra and experience the excitement of performing alongside professional musicians.
Since then, Upbeat has reached more than 700 young people across ten schools, creating new orchestras and helping schools build lasting cultures of music-making.
The success of the programme has led to the next chapter: Upbeat Orchestras.
Building on the experience, relationships and expertise developed through LMTO Upbeat, we are growing the work into a broader, independent organisation creating opportunities for young people to experience orchestral music-making, learn from professional musicians and discover where music can take them.
The people
Upbeat Orchestras was co-founded by Joe Cummings, Frances Leith and Alice Wright, bringing together a wealth of experience across musical direction, performance, producing, arts management and music education.
Joe is a musical director, pianist, composer and animateur with extensive experience across musical theatre, classical music and participatory music-making. He was the Creative Director of LMTO Upbeat and has worked with organisations including the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, Royal Opera House, English National Opera and Royal Shakespeare Company.
Frances brings extensive experience in music education, project management and producing, having played a central role in the development and delivery of Upbeat. Alice brings a wealth of producing and company management experience across the performing arts, including her work with the London Gay Men’s Chorus and opera companies.
Alongside the core team, Upbeat Orchestras works with a network of world-class professional musicians from London's musical theatre and wider music industry. Our musicians have performed in major West End productions and international tours, including The Phantom of the Opera, as well as working with artists and projects across the wider music industry, from Pete Tong's Ibiza Classics to performing with Ed Sheeran.
This connection to the professional music industry is at the heart of what makes Upbeat different. Young musicians don't simply learn about orchestral playing — they get to learn from people who are actively doing it at the highest level.
Our supporters
The work that became Upbeat Orchestras has been made possible through the generosity of funders, trusts, foundations, partners and individual supporters.
LMTO Upbeat received support from Arts Council England through National Lottery funding and The Sandy and Zorica Glen Charitable Settlement. More recently, funding for LMTO Upbeat and core organisational costs has included support from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, alongside The Sandy & Zorica Glen Charitable Settlement, The Fishmongers' Company’s Charitable Trust and Three Monkies Trust.
We are hugely grateful to everyone who has helped make these opportunities possible. If you would like to support the future of Upbeat, please do get in touch.
What's next?
Upbeat Orchestras is building on everything that has worked — the music, the musicians, the schools and, most importantly, the young people — while opening the door to new projects and partnerships.
From a first note to a full orchestra, we want more young people to experience the joy, confidence and possibility that comes from making music together.
From first note to the West End.