BBC Concert Orchestra Partners with Two UK Universities

The orchestra’s partnership with University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University will provide students top performance, composition, and production experiences

The BBC Concert Orchestra’s collaboration with England’s University of Nottingham and the Nottingham Trent University will see the launch of a year-long film-making and scoring project, comprising students from both universities.

Near the end of the project, students will participate in improvisation workshops with top musicians and composers, plus workshops with BBC Concert Orchestra musicians and BAFTA and multi-Emmy Award-winning composer, George Fenton. 

In collaboration with the universities’ students, a new BBC Radio 3 Recital Series will also be recorded, with plans for further broadcast programmes as the partnership continues.

The students will observe and receive mentorship from the BBC Concert Orchestra to develop skills and attain industry experience to increase their employability.

Additionally, they will gain insight into technical roles in the broadcast industry, and create new research opportunities that focus on the social impact of music, digital technologies, and audience engagement.

The partnership will begin with a two-week BBC Concert Orchestra Residency, where the BBC production activities will form the center of the research and training programs.

Students will also support music-making with young people across curricular and extracurricular settings. The partnership will reach schools and local communities through initiatives made to improve wellbeing and music education. 

“What we have planned for this partnership is ambitious and incredibly exciting and demonstrates the vital role of music in education,” said head of BBC Orchestras and Choirs, Simon Webb. “I look forward to working with the teams in Nottingham and sharing our world class music making with students and local communities.”

The BBC Concert Orchestra will continue to perform and rehearse in venues in London and across the UK as part of the long-term partnership. From 2025, the orchestra’s administration will be based solely at the East Bank cultural center — securing its sustainable future.

“[This] will be invaluable to students, who’ll be working with a world-class orchestra to develop their industry experience, and it will create community outreach opportunities that will benefit diverse groups across the city,” said pro-vice chancellor for the arts faculty at University of Nottingham, Jeremy Gregory. “We also look forward to exploring a wide range of research opportunities.”

“This is an exciting partnership that not only benefits our colleagues and students but also the wider community,” added Amy Bere, Nottingham Trent University’s director of culture. “Collaboration between all partners will showcase the talent, research and cultural offering of our region, putting Nottingham firmly on the cultural map.