If you had visited Sheffield Cathedral yesterday morning, you would have been met by a live string orchestra rehearsing classical interpretations of some familiar tunes. Paradox Orchestra are hosting a series of concerts supporting charitable causes across Yorkshire; the Sheffield performances will raise funds and awareness for The Archer Project. They will be playing iconic hits from Pink Floyd on 16th May, and Fleetwood Mac on 12th July, in the magnificent setting of Sheffield Cathedral.
Michael Sluman, the orchestra’s founder, grew up in a mining town near Sheffield in a working-class family. He said: “In various studies, classical music has been shown to have a positive impact on all audiences, including those struggling, such as the homeless, providing a sense of calm, promoting relaxation, and offering a form of self-expression and art appreciation. It’s proven to reduce stress and anxiety, elevate mood, and enhance overall well-being. We will be working with the Sheffield homeless by providing Inspire Days and access to our rehearsals and performances for free.
“We want to demystify classical music and reach younger, and hard-to-reach audiences to make it accessible, enriching and fun. We have employed over a hundred local musicians in the last three years, whilst promoting inclusiveness, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunities. Classical music is for all.”
Our CEO, Tim Renshaw, said: “This is a real opportunity with professional musicians who are interested in how music can be part of somebody’s growth and development, particularly coming from experiences of homelessness, addiction, or other disadvantaged situations. We know that music can be incredibly therapeutic, and a collaboration like this linking classical with Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac, I think will appeal to a lot of people we support.”
Tim spoke to Adam Fowler from ITV Calendar about high numbers of people rough sleeping in the city and the difficulties our charity is facing. He said: “We’ve got a real bottleneck within the system and high costs, so all of that adds together to say potentially it will get worse.” This is one of the many reasons The Archer Project’s services are so greatly needed in Sheffield. We are grateful to both Paradox Orchestra and Sheffield Cathedral driving support for our charity to continue helping homeless people who desperately need us in these very challenging times.
The orchestra, which was founded in 2020, has forged a reputation for staging breath-taking concerts that put a classical twist on rock, pop, R&B, Drum & Bass and dance hits. Many of the musicians are graduates of Leeds Conservatoire, who have played with the biggest acts in pop, such as Ed Sheeran, Louis Tomlinson, Marc Almond, and Little Mix. They are passionate about hosting concerts in the heart of the communities the musicians live and work in, with accessible central venues such as cathedrals and town halls.
Ben Rossi, Development Manager at Sheffield Cathedral, said: “The cathedral is an iconic building in the heart of Sheffield, which means many different things to a diverse group of people - worship, sanctuary, education, music, community, and celebration. We have also been working hard to promote the cathedral as an affordable and versatile venue where people can enjoy inspirational music, exhibitions, and events.”
Ben added: “Our new partnership with Paradox Orchestra is evidence of this hard work coming to fruition and the cathedral truly being ‘A Place for All People.’ Through The Archer Project, it is also a place where homeless and vulnerable people can seek out a warm meal, help and support. With a percentage of concert proceeds contributing to the vital work of The Archer Project this new venture is also a fine example of organisations coming together to help those most in need.”
Paradox Orchestra want to “remind audiences that we have a shared humanity” and “promise a soulful, enriching, uplifting, entertaining and inclusive experience.” Tickets are available now for both concerts:
50 Years of Pink Floyd on 16th May, 7.30pm
An Orchestral Tribute to Fleetwood Mac on 12th July, 7.30pm
You can watch the full ITV Calendar clip at youtu.be/yZJtO1b5NS4
Photos of Paradox Orchestra by Elizabeth Brown
