Aurora Orchestra
Aurora Orchestra has established itself among Europe’s leading chamber orchestras, pioneering memorised performance as a regular feature of its artistic practice. Under Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon, it has combined the highest quality of performance with creative programming and concerts. Based in London, Aurora is Associate Orchestra at Southbank Centre and Resident Orchestra at Kings Place.
BBC Concert Orchestra
The mission of the BBC Concert Orchestra is to bring inspiring musical experiences to everyone, everywhere, with the ensemble’s great versatility as the key.
As our Associate Orchestra, highlights in 2021/22 include a performance under Principal Conductor Bramwell Tovey with trumpeter Yazz Ahmed as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, two live versions of the BBC Radio 3 programme Unclassified with presenter Elizabeth Alker, and the world premiere of Composer in Residence Dobrinka Tabakova’s Concerto for Orchestra.
Along with its regular engagements throughout the UK, the BBC Concert Orchestra has toured internationally to China, Japan, Sweden, Abu Dhabi and coast to coast in the USA.
Chineke! Orchestra
Founded in 2015 by Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, the Chineke! Orchestra is Europe’s first majority-Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, and comprises exceptional musicians from across the continent. Chineke!’s motto is: ‘Championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music’. Chineke! performs standard orchestral repertoire along with the works of Black and ethnically diverse composers both past and present.
The Chineke! Orchestra works closely with its sister ensemble, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, a youth orchestra of Black and ethnically diverse players aged between 11 and 22, with senior players acting as mentors, teachers and role models to the young musicians. The youth orchestra gives junior players experience, encouragement and confidence during their formative years, with the hope of increasing the number of Black and ethnically diverse candidates currently studying music at third level.
NYO
The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain exists because they believe in the power and potential of the UK’s young musicians, and they want to see this unlocked through the power of orchestral music. NYO’s understanding of this art form is that it can and should be radically inclusive, and relevant to every young person in the UK, regardless of their background or their access to music in school or at home.
In 2022 and beyond, NYO is on a mission to work alongside teenage musicians to open up orchestral music and share it with young people across the UK. Expect playing in the aisles, riotous music from a range of genre-bending composers, young and old, and an inclusive, celebratory atmosphere designed to make everyone feel welcome, whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned concertgoer.
See all our concerts in season 2021/22
