Partners

Netherlands Symphony Orchestra

The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra (HETSym) is based in Enschede, in the province of Overijssel. Performing at an international level, as evidenced by its highly acclaimed CD recordings and invitations for international tours, the orchestra is firmly rooted in society.  Jan Willem de Vriend has been its artistic director and chief conductor since 2006. The orchestra's repertoire covers music from four centuries. In its home town Enschede, the orchestra builds on a symphonic tradition of more than 80 years, and it is known as one of the most modern and and entrepreneurial orchestras in The Netherlands. Its international partners include the BBC Philharmonic and the Liszt School of Music Weimar. NedSym created a number of ensembles, such as a Baroque Academy and chamber music ensembles. The orchestra’s commitment to expanding its social relevance is also reflected in the large number of projects in which education is a key element.

Odense Symfoniorkest

With an internationally renowned Chief conductor (former music director of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow,Alexander Vedernikov),  a praised Principal Guest Conductor (Simon Gaudenz), and 73 musicians from 17 nations, Odense Symphony Orchestra has positioned itself internationally and contributes to the reputation of Odense and Denmark abroad.  Concerts and productions with Odense Symphony Orchestra vary from symphony concerts, light classical and opera to chamber music, children/youth concerts and crossovers.  The orchestra’s schedule comprises approx. 100 productions per year including symphonic and opera performances, recordings and tours. Since it’s first tour in 1975, the Odense Symphony Orchestra has played more than 100 concerts abroad: in the USA, China, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Holland, the Baltic countries, Russia, Spain and Sweden. The orchestra’s discography of about 70 CD’s includes a varied repertoire reaching from classical masterpieces to contemporary music.

Tonkünstler Orchester Niederösterreich

The Tonkünstler Orchestra is among the most important institutions on the Austrian music scene. The main focus of the orchestra’s artistic work is the traditional repertoire, ranging from the classical to the Romantic period through to the 20th century. With the beginning of the 15-16 season, the Japanese conductor Yutaka Sado will be the new Music Director. The Tonkünstler Orchestra is innovative in treading alternative paths. The inclusion of genres such as jazz and world music within the scope of the «Plugged-In» series ensures that the orchestra remains up-to-date at all times. The Tonkünstler has the largest music didactics programme in Austria. Tours have taken the Tonkünstler to Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, the Baltic States and Japan in past seasons. 
Many recordings display the orchestra’s artistic profile.

VU University Amsterdam

Ever since it was founded in 1880, VU University Amsterdam has been known for its distinctive approach to knowledge. VU is an open organization, strongly linked to people and society.

The Faculty of Social Sciences of the VU University in Amsterdam is a broadly disciplined faculty wherein the classic disciplines political sciences, sociology and cultural anthropology as well as the modern terrains of organization, communication and policy have their own respective places.

The Department of Sociology has an interesting team of teachers and researchers professionalized in social theories on modernity, individualization and multiculturality and in the consequences of these for the individual lives of people in different periods of their life course (in their school and work careers, their family and social networks, in their identity formation, in meaning and mental well-being). The department uniquely profiles with the set of theme's Social Gerontology and Modernity and Culture.

BBC Philharmonic (associate partner)

The BBC Philharmonic is based at MediaCityUK in Salford and performs an annual season of concerts at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, as well as regular concerts in Hanley, Leeds, Kendal and other venues across the north of England. As one of the BBC’s six performing groups the majority of the orchestra’s concerts are broadcast on BBC Radio 3. The BBC Philharmonic is supported by Salford City Council, enabling the orchestra to build active links in the local area through a busy learning and community programme. Juanjo Mena is Chief Conductor.

The BBC Philharmonic has its roots in the city of Manchester, since it’s foundation in 1934 as the BBC Northern Orchestra. In 1982, soon after moving to the BBC’s new building on Oxford Road in Manchester, it changed its name to the BBC Philharmonic. In 2011 the orchestra moved to their new centre at Salford Quays, where it has a state-of-the-art acoustically-engineered orchestral studio. To celebrate the move, the orchestra held a 17-day festival, BBC Philharmonic Presents, which created a series of unique collaborations broadcast across the range of the BBC’s national radio stations. In 2012 the series was expanded to venues across the north of England, bringing orchestral music to an even wider audience.

As an internationally-renowned orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic regularly tours in Europe and Asia. The BBC Philharmonic has made over 200 recordings with Chandos Records and sold around 900,000 albums.