BBC Concert Orchestra Inaugural Nottingham Residency

Nottingham welcomed the BBC Concert Orchestra to the city in November thanks to a Universities for Nottingham partnership established earlier this year.

The partnership is intended to develop and enhance the cultural life of Nottingham, one of the commitments set out in the Civic Agreement, alongside providing our students with unique access to a world class performing and recording orchestra.

Music students from both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University were given the opportunity to take part in a workshop session with Seckou Keita, a Nottingham-based, award-winning and multi-talented kora player, singer, percussionist, producer and composer, ahead of the world premiere of his African Rhapsodies concert at the Royal Concert Hall. The whole orchestra then spent the weekend at the David Ross Sports Village on campus at the University of Nottingham rehearsing for the concert which took place on Monday.

Having the BBC Concert Orchestra in Nottingham is a great opportunity – the range of music they perform and the musicianship is incredible to watch and to be a part of.

Paul Emmett, University of Nottingham Music Student

The idea is that this is something much bigger than turning up and playing a concert. We will reach into the community, work with the universities and we’ve got ambitions to work with underserved communities in Nottingham.

Bill Chandler, BBC Concert Orchestra Director

This inaugural residency will be followed by several more over the course of the three-year partnership, augmented with further activity in other parts of the year, including incorporating BBC production activity into research and training programmes at both universities and giving the Concert Orchestra a springboard to reach underserved communities and young people across the East Midlands.

The BBC Concert Orchestra’s residency in Nottingham will have a profound impact on not only NTU students, but young people and audiences across the city and county — we’re delighted to be involved in such an ambitious partnership.

Amy Bere, Director of Culture at NTU.