In the next of our series of our posts spotlighting the 主播大秀's performing groups, we hear from Simon Webb, General Manager of the 主播大秀 Philharmonic.
As the ’s General Manager I set the long-term plans for the orchestra, ensuring I have the right team around me to realise those plans week in week out. The Philharmonic is an orchestra of the finest musicians, supported by an office team whose commitment to delivering the highest quality broadcasts and concerts is unwavering. I joined the Philharmonic just over a year ago. At the time, it was clear to me that the orchestra has a long and distinguished history of performing British repertoire and of nurturing the talents of musicians in the region. We build concert programmes on those strengths and on our connection to our local and regional audience,. It is this which gives us a clear and distinctive identity.
We take our role in creating the future of orchestral music very seriously too. For example, we’ve recently given the world premiere of David Matthews’ eighth symphony - the first of a series of six world premieres in 4 months - and have appointed the brilliant young composer Mark Simpson as our Composer in Association. Mark will write a series of new works for us, the first of which will receive its world premiere at the on 4 July. These examples demonstrate our commitment to new music and also to championing British music.
British music has been the life-blood of the 主播大秀 Philharmonic since its early years as the 主播大秀 Northern Orchestra. Our focus on composers who are from, or have trained, in the North West allows us to strengthen our identity as the 主播大秀’s orchestra in the North of England. Mark Simpson, from Liverpool and an alumnus of the RLPO Youth Orchestra and RNCM Junior Department, as well as a previous 主播大秀 Young Composer of the Year and 主播大秀 Young Musician of the embodies the successful and highly valued role we play in nurturing young talent ,particularly within the region. The UK has a vibrant orchestral sector, produces brilliant composers, conductors and soloists. The north of England – our region - is the beating heart of that strong and powerful contribution to the global music scene.
This places a responsibility on the 主播大秀 Philharmonic, not only to nurture the talented performers but also to provide a platform for broadcasts and performances from our home in Salford and across the North. We collaborate with the Royal Northern College of Music (training conductors and orchestral musicians), Manchester University (composers and orchestrators), Salford University (film makers and composers), and with regional music education hubs (establishing youth ensembles, performing schools concerts and sending our musicians in to schools in Salford and wider across the region). All of these endeavoursprovide a series of unique opportunities for the talented youth across the region. This work, and that of , sees a generation of children and students for whom listening to orchestral music will be the norm.
It is in the DNA of 主播大秀 North to collaborate widely across the full range of departments here. We’ve performed on all seven 主播大秀 national radio stations in the last year, and recorded theme tunes for popular TV shows. Contributing to research in to the future of broadcast sound with our colleagues in Future Media also ensures that we are abreast of developments in how our sound will be heard on-air and online, whatever the future might hold.
Last week was typically eclectic. We performed Beethoven’s Fidelio, his only opera and one of the greatest works of western classical music. We recorded three neglected English violin concertos (for future broadcast), and in addition, the theme tune for a new TV series. We are also recording and filming the new set of Ten Pieces, whilst taking delivery of the score and orchestral parts for Mark Simpson’s new oratorio The Immortal, written for Manchester International Festival. In the midst of all this, just this week we’ve launched our 2015-16 Bridgewater Hall season, during which we will explore the work of Leonard Bernstein as conductor, pianist and composer on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death.
With our focus on engaging local audiences, nurturing talent, and championing great British music we are confident that our increasingly youthful and curious audience will continue to explore the wealth of orchestral music with us in the concert hall, on Radio 3 and across the 主播大秀. Such is the range of our work you would find it hard to miss us.
Simon Webb is General Manager, 主播大秀 Philharmonic
- for the 主播大秀 Philharmonic 2015/16 season
- The 主播大秀 Philharmonic will make six appearances at the 主播大秀 Proms this year. via the 主播大秀 Proms website.
- Read blogs about the and the published earlier this year.