For some people, music is entertainment. For others, it can become a way of communicating, connecting and finding a place where they truly belong.

That has been the experience of Cameron Jacobs, a 20-year-old from Salisbury in Wiltshire, whose journey with an inclusive youth orchestra has helped transform his confidence and opened up new possibilities for his future.

Cameron, who has autism, ADHD and Tourette’s, joined Orchestras for All seven years ago after struggling to find schools and clubs where he felt accepted. At the time, he had spent almost a year out of school and had experienced repeated rejection.

Joining the orchestra offered something different: an environment where he could participate as himself.

“I feel like music is another language,” Cameron says. “It feels like you are speaking to people in the audience.”

A place to belong

For Cameron and his family, finding an organisation that embraced his individuality made a profound difference.

His mother, Polly, described the period before he joined the orchestra as incredibly difficult. Finding suitable educational and social opportunities for a child with additional needs can be challenging, and repeated rejection can leave families feeling isolated.

The orchestra provided a welcome change.

Cameron remembers being excited when he first joined because he could simply be himself and enjoy making music. Over time, he developed not only as a trumpet player but also as a leader and mentor.

Today, he describes the orchestra as a “wonderful community”.

That sense of belonging can be just as important as learning an instrument.

From trumpet player to role model

Cameron’s experience didn’t stop with performing.

He has become an ambassador for Orchestras for All, helping support other young people as they develop their musical abilities and wider life skills.

He has also encouraged others to become more active through a group he created called Cam’s Running, Walking and Rolling Club.

His achievements away from the orchestra have been remarkable too.

In 2025, Cameron ran the London Marathon to raise money for Orchestras for All. At just 18, he set a Guinness World Record for being the youngest person to complete the London Marathon barefoot.

His mother joined him for the marathon, making the achievement a family experience as well as a fundraising challenge.

Following the race, Cameron’s interview with the BBC attracted millions of views online. He spoke warmly about his mother and shared a message that has clearly shaped his approach to life: believe in yourself, and you’re already halfway there.

Why inclusive music matters

Cameron’s story highlights something bigger than one individual’s achievements.

An orchestra is often thought of as a place where talented musicians come together to perform. But inclusive music programmes can offer much more. They can create friendships, confidence, opportunities for leadership and a genuine sense of community.

For young people who have struggled to find environments where they feel comfortable, those opportunities can be life-changing.

Orchestras for All aims to make classical music accessible to children and teenagers from all backgrounds. Cameron’s journey demonstrates what can happen when young people are given an opportunity to participate without being defined by the barriers they have encountered elsewhere.

Looking ahead

Cameron now hopes to build a career in community music or become a music teacher.

It is a fitting ambition for someone whose own life has been influenced so strongly by the power of an inclusive musical community.

His journey—from a young person struggling to find somewhere he belonged, to an orchestra ambassador, marathon runner and role model—shows that inclusion isn’t simply about giving someone a place in the room.

It is about creating an environment where they can contribute, grow and discover what they are capable of.

Sometimes, finding your voice doesn’t require speaking.

Sometimes, it begins with picking up an instrument and playing alongside people who are willing to listen.