London Philharmonic Orchestra to become Resident Orchestra at Saffron Hall

Saffron Hall and the London Philharmonic Orchestra today announce a new partnership between the two organisations. The London Philharmonic Orchestra takes up a brand-new residency at Saffron Hall – the world-class concert hall in the heart of a state secondary school in Essex – beginning in the 2019/20 season. It joins Britten Sinfonia, which has been Resident Orchestra at the Hall since the 16/17 season.

The LPO will be a significant addition to the cultural life of the region, providing top-quality symphonic music and becoming increasingly involved in Saffron Hall’s ground-breaking model of world-class performing arts and educational provision at the heart of its community.

Having performed at the venue numerous times since its opening five years ago, the LPO continues its commitment to bringing outstanding musical performances to a wide range of audiences with this residency. Each year the Orchestra will bring four concerts to Saffron Hall including one of their popular ‘FUNharmonics’ concerts for families, providing diverse programmes for a range of concert-goers.

Conductors involved in the first season of the Saffron Hall residency include Vladimir Jurowski, the LPO’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Marin Alsop and Sir Antonio Pappano.

Both organisations share a passionate commitment to education and community work and will continue to uphold this by developing additional projects together alongside the main concerts. In the first season, the LPO will involve Saffron Walden County High School students in the LPO’s Soundworks project – a creative platform for teenage musicians to collaborate with young people from other artforms and learn from industry specialists. Musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra will give masterclasses to students at the County High School and coach young people at the Saffron Centre for Young Musicians, a specialist Saturday school offering high quality musical training to students aged 4-18 through a partnership between the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Saffron Hall, Essex Music Education Hub and Saffron Walden County High School. The LPO will also work and perform with local community music groups.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra, whose London home is the Royal Festival Hall, will continue its longstanding residencies at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and in Eastbourne and Brighton. The new residency at Saffron Hall enables it to share its work with audiences in the East of England regularly for the first time.

Angela Dixon, Chief Executive of Saffron Hall, said:

’The London Philharmonic Orchestra and Vladimir Jurowski performed the very first concert of my first ever season at Saffron Hall, and it remains one of the highlights of my time here. I am absolutely delighted that we are formalising the excellent relationship that exists between the LPO, Saffron Hall and our audience by announcing this residency alongside the excellent programme already offered by Britten Sinfonia. With the LPO and Britten Sinfonia as our Resident Orchestras, we have an exceptional offering for music lovers in the Eastern region”.

Timothy Walker, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, said:

‘With this exciting new partnership, we are greatly looking forward to not only bringing more top-level artists and music making to the region, but to working with Angela Dixon and the team to fully involves ourselves in the visionary Schools and Communities programme there. We are delighted to have this opportunity to share our work with audiences in the East of England regularly for the first time.”

Booking for all the partnered events will be available on the Saffron Hall website from spring 2019.