Communications
To have the biggest impact and change the most lives, Manchester Camerata must continue to tell its story to the world. We believe that music is for everyone, and that means we need to connect not just with our existing audiences, but also reach out to those beyond traditional classical music circles.
This year, we played live to over 35,000 people and reached 1 million more through our digital channels. The stories we tell are diverse, yet they all share a common thread – each demonstrates the ability that music has to transform lives.
2023-24 has also been a year of consolidation and growth of Manchester Camerata’s communications expertise. We expanded the team by welcoming part-time videographer Jay Cipriani and full-time Digital Marketing Manager Reb Everett.
This increase in capacity has significantly enhanced the quality and regularity of our content. With the expanded team in place, we’ve produced a series of compelling short-form stories and interviews, deepening the connection with audiences through providing insight into what we do and how we work.
A major highlight in 2023-24 was the launch of the Camerata 360° Ruth Sutton Fellowship scheme. The success of this programme has been widely recognised, culminating in a feature in Classical Music magazine highlighting the benefits the Fellowship is already bringing to emerging musicians.
There have also been several significant awards and achievements in the last 12 months. We were delighted that our Mozart CD was once again named Classic FM’s Record of the Week, an acknowledgement of the continued excellence of our recordings. Additionally, our Principal Flute, Amina Hussain, received the prestigious Association of British Orchestras Award for demonstrating the unique power music has to improve lives. Our performances have also received glowing reviews from major national outlets, including The Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian. This critical acclaim further cements our reputation as one of the leading orchestras in the UK with a presence and significance that extends nationwide.
This year also saw the launch of our first digital annual report, making our work more accessible and engaging to a broader audience. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it has set a new standard for how we communicate our achievements and goals.
Perhaps the most significant milestone of 2024 was the launch of our National Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia. This initiative led to our largest volume of press coverage to date, with over 150 pieces of press coverage, including national TV features. Hosting the National Centre has consolidated our position at the forefront of using music as a tool for social good, particularly in supporting those living with dementia.
Looking Forward
As we move into the next year, Manchester Camerata will continue to explore new ways to shape and share our stories. With a robust communications strategy centred on digital engagement and a growing team dedicated to digital storytelling, we are poised to further inform, challenge, and provoke thoughtful discussion. We will continue to uncover and amplify voices that are not always heard, using our platform to challenge preconceptions about what an orchestra can achieve and the profound difference that world-class music can make.