Innovative horn stand proves a winner for student team

Chris Griffiths, a member of the Royal Northern Sinfonia in Gateshead, is now the proud owner of a bespoke French horn stand, after a team of students from Newcastle University took home the top prize at Hackcessible, a competition that sets out to create assistive technology for disabled people. Griffiths lives with Charcot-marie-tooth, a condition which involves nerve damage in the hands and feet. ‘I was astonished they had considered every angle,’ he says. ‘I can now have my hand correctly positioned in the bell and properly adjust the tone and tuning. It even allows me to rotate the horn so that I can drain it with water.’

Inspired idea: (right) Chris Griffiths tries out his horn stand, designed by Newcastle University students (above)