A multi-award-winning charity using music to support people affected by addiction
New Album – Bloom is out this Friday!
Celebrate 10 years of New Note Orchestra with Bloom, our brand-new album featuring original music written by our members and performed alongside musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra. A powerful celebration of creativity, collaboration and recovery.
Pre-save Bloom now and be ready for the release on 4 September.
Everybody Scream!
Join New Note Orchestra and special guests Wham Jam Thank You Ma’am Community Choir at The Old Market, Hove, for an atmospheric celebration of Samhain. Expect haunting harmonies, live music and community, all explored through the lens of recovery.
Friday 23 October 2026 | 7.30pm | The Old Market, Hove
The Story Behind the Music
New Note Orchestra have collaborated with London Philharmonic Orchestra players on a groundbreaking new album of original music, due for release on 4 September.
Read the story behind the project and discover how it came together.
Presenting Found, a powerful new film from New Note Dance
Devised by our Artistic Director Lauren Dowse and directed by filmmaker Angus Cameron, Found brings the spiritual principles of the 12-Step recovery programme to life through movement and storytelling.
New Note Orchestra receives the King's Award for Voluntary Service!
This is a tremendous achievement, and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the musicians and volunteers involved. The KAVS is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and it is awarded for life. This means that the New Note Orchestra will now be recognized as a leading voluntary organization in the UK, and it will continue to inspire others to get involved in their communities.
How we make a difference
Founded in Brighton in 2015, New Note Orchestra is the world’s first orchestra for people in recovery. We create a safe, welcoming space to make music, find connection, develop new skills and rebuild lives. Our programmes support every stage of the recovery journey – from early recovery to gaining employment as workshop leaders.
Our musicians compose and perform original works, blending acoustic, electric, folk and classical sounds to create music that is atmospheric, moving and powerful.
Since our launch, we’ve developed new projects that use music and creativity to support people in recovery. They are free and available to anyone affected by addiction, regardless of ability.
Come along and try a session, or support our work. Together we can make positive change through music.
Our projects
New Note Orchestra – the first recovery orchestra in the world, which meets weekly.
New Note Strummers – a weekly guitar group for beginners and intermediates.
New Note Dance – a monthly session designed to support women affected by addiction, trauma or adverse life challenges.
New Note Key Changers – our innovative new training programme where participants with lived experienced are trained to deliver community music workshops.
We are proud to be a member of the Addiction Recovery Arts Network; an exciting collective of groups and individuals working within the recovery arts sector.
