"Violin operators" or "evangelists for our art"?

How do we view ourselves as orchestral musicians and how might we evolve?

Claire Mera-Nelson, by Colin Crisford
Catherine Surace, by Eduardo Bermúdez
Catherine Arlidge by Richard Battye
  • event type:Classical:NEXT 16 conference
  • date:26 May 2016
  • time:15:00 - 15:45
  • city/area:Rotterdam
  • venue:De Doelen, Conference Room 1 (fourth floor)
  • country:Netherlands
  • event posted by:Piranha Arts

Chaired by C. Arlidge (UK), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
with C. Mera-Nelson (UK), Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
C. Surace (Colombia), Fundación Nacional Batuta

Orchestras are home to so many hugely talented and unique musicians. Many of them have skills stretching way beyond "operating" their instruments, skills that can be used in other roles, such as education, chamber music, fund raising, advocacy, and connecting to new audiences.

How might we create orchestras of differently skilled musical evangelists, united as equals, by the common goal of sharing great music? Could this new vision be the catalyst for real social change in wider communities?

The session will include video conversations with Sir Simon Rattle, an international perspective from Catherine Surace, Colombian Oboist, and an educational perspective from Claire Mera-Nelson, Director of Music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.