Featured Partner: Lakeside Arts
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Meet our partner, Lakeside Arts, the University of Nottingham’s public arts centre. We’re working with Lakeside to create opportunities for young musicians in the region.
Our Featured Partner spotlight introduces one of our partners, providing insight into the different ways we collaborate with a broad range of organisations.
Here we chat with the Head of Music Programmes at Lakeside Arts, the University of Nottingham’s public arts centre.
Which organisation do you work for and what does your role involve?
I am the Head of Music Programmes at Lakeside Arts, the University of Nottingham’s public arts centre.
I programme the public concert series of chamber and early music concerts in the wonderful acoustics of the Djanogly Recital Hall. I also programme folk, global, jazz and contemporary classical music in the Djanogly Theatre.
I have responsibility for programming the professionally conducted University Philharmonia, Choir and Chamber Choir.
What do you most enjoy about your role?
Selecting internationally renowned musicians to perform to audiences in the East Midlands is such a privilege.
I love working collaboratively on new creative projects, whether that’s developing new commissions or introducing new audiences - especially young people - to specific musical works for the first time.
How did you hear about Orchestras Live and when did you begin working with us?
I was introduced locally to the work of Orchestras Live and their partnership with Inspire Youth Arts when musicians from Able Orchestra performed at Lakeside in 2018. Since then, we’ve developed opportunities for young musicians in the region to attend workshops and concerts, especially with the exciting Manchester Collective.
Able Orchestra Pioneers for the UNLOCKED event. 2025.
Able Orchestra Pioneers, Zoe and Jess. 2025.
What’s the most memorable thing about the partnership?
The generosity of all the participants, whether students, early-career musicians or professional, established musicians of the highest calibre sharing their insights and love of the music they explore together.
How has the partnership impacted your community?
It’s enabled students from local Nottinghamshire secondary schools and also Pioneers from Able Orchestra to have inspirational access to some of the most exciting professional musicians working in contemporary classical music today.
It’s helped to ensure that Manchester Collective continues to visit Nottingham to perform their imaginative, genre-defying concerts in the East Midlands.
Orchestras Live is celebrating its 60th birthday this year! What excites you most about the future of our partnership?
The ability of Orchestras Live to take calculated creative risks that are bold, imaginative and make real impact on everyone that participates in their projects.
Describe working with Orchestras Live in three words.
Impactful. Ambitious. Collaborative.
