Do you have a musical instrument that you haven’t played since your schooldays lying neglected and dust-ridden in your attic? Have you ever been tempted to brush off the cobwebs and give it another whirl? If so, you could be just the person Burford Orchestra is looking for.

The orchestra — which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year — is encouraging adults to rediscover the joys of music-making with a special ‘Come and Play’ event at Burford School on Sunday afternoon.

“The idea is to try to get people who might have played as a kid to hook their instrument out of the attic and have a go, then come along and play with us, just to have the fun of doing it again,” says French horn player Louise Woods. “Then we hope they might come and join the orchestra.

“We get a grant from the local authority because we’re a community orchestra, and one of the reasons for doing the Come and Play is to open it out to the community, and say to people you can be part of this.”

Louise, a journalist, returned to playing the French horn three years ago after a gap of 25 years, and was surprised at how quickly she got back into it. “I was very rusty and my lip strength was rubbish, but I could remember all the fingering. I haven’t got the stamina I had because I’m not playing every day, but I can certainly play the same notes that I used to.”

Burford Orchestra started in May 1954 at Burford School Hall with around 17 members. Today there is more than twice that number, and new members are always welcome. Rehearsals are on Monday evenings in Witney, with three concerts a year, usually at Burford School.

“The standard is pretty good, and we play lots of the sort of stuff you hear on Classic FM, so good, memorable, popular stuff,” says Louise. “We draw players from all around the area — one of the other horn players lives near Bicester, and one of the cellists comes from Moreton-in-Marsh. We have a reputation of being a very easy-going orchestra. We’re good, but not so good that it would be terrifying for you to come and play with us!”

The Come and Play event will include music from Les Misérables and Vaughan Williams’ English Folk Songs, with a break for tea and cakes and a small informal concert at the end of the afternoon. Organisers hope newcomers will then be inspired to join the orchestra for its summer concert on June 28, a Proms-type occasion that will include Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture, Elgar Pomp and Circumstance, Henry Wood Sea Songs, Marquez Danzon No.2 and a medley of film music arrangements.

For Louise, returning to playing after more than two decades away from it has been an absolute joy. “It’s one of the best things I’ve done as an adult, and I’m so glad I’m doing it,” she says.

“I have no ambitions — I don’t want to do any more grades or play a solo in a concert. I just love being part of the music and making really lovely sounds. It’s very minimal effort for the enormous amount of fun it brings.”

Burford Orchestra: Come and Play
Burford School
Sunday, 1pm-5pm
More info at burfordorchestra.com