The first year of a dynamic partnership between the Universities for Nottingham, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Theatre Royal Concert Hall has wrapped up.
Year one has been filled with vibrant events, performances, and community engagement.
From September 2023 to August 2024, this innovative partnership brought music to life across Nottingham, with a packed calendar of activities including rehearsals, side-by-side performances, school trips, and more. The collaboration not only provided a platform for artistic expression but also captured the attention of the media, contributing to the cultural vibrancy of the region.
The year’s highlights are documented in a comprehensive report that reflects on the successes and outlines the vision for the future as well as a short video of some of the activity that took place.
As this fruitful first year draws to a close, the partnership looks ahead with excitement, aiming to build on its achievements and explore new opportunities in the years to come. The future promises even more musical magic for Nottingham.
“This is a partnership which is hugely meaningful to the BBC both in context of our corporation wide strategy, delivering partnerships at a local level that have a global significance, and also from the perspective of our musicians, who place high value on the creative interactions they have with your students.
We are very much looking forward to year two of our partnership, when we will continue with our direct interaction with students, but also explore the potential for our partnership to have wider social impact across the city and region, backed by arts and humanities and social science research, demonstrating the impact that higher education and cultural organisations can deliver at a population and community level.”
Matthew Swann, Director of the BBC Concert Orchestra
“Nottingham Trent University are proud of the impact of the first year of partnership with the BBC Concert Orchestra as part of the Universities for Nottingham initiative. It is a key part of our Civic Agreement with the University of Nottingham to support and amplify the development of the existing culture, arts and heritage offer within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.”
Amy Bere, Director of Culture, Nottingham Trent University
“Our partnership with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Nottingham Trent University has brought unprecedented and unique opportunities for the universities’ students and for our researchers. Our students have had unique professional experiences composing and making films for the BBC Concert Orchestra and getting involved in rehearsals and in opportunities for side-by-side playing. This partnership is also of great benefit to the wider city of Nottingham, enriching the already vibrant culture and musical offering of our city and area. In the first year we have held workshops, talks, rehearsals, performances, school trips, showcases, and more. We look forward to sustaining and further developing the work and relationships established in the first year as we continue into the second year of the partnership.”
Elizabeth Kelly, Head of the Department of Music, University of Nottingham