iOrchestra wins major award for SW project

The Philharmonia Orchestra’s iOrchestra project (www.iorchestra.co.uk) has been announced as winner in the ‘Audiences and Engagement’ category at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards (http://rpsmusicawards.com/index/winners).

The presentation in London on Tuesday (5 May) recognised outstanding achievement in live classical music in 2014.

It is the third time in six years that the Philharmonia has won this award, emphatically consolidating the Orchestra’s position as sector leader in using the latest digital technologies to reach new audiences in innovative and engaging ways.

Judges of the award cited the project, which has also just won a Music Teacher magazine Award for Excellence 2015 in the Best Musical Initiative category, for: “Its impressive range of partnerships across arts and non-arts organisations; for its innovative marketing, including an emphasis on repeat visits; for embedding itself in local communities in Devon and Cornwall, leaving them enriched through increased skills and connections; for interweaving outstanding live performances with online and installation experiences; and for this organisation’s ability to reinvent and evolve to build on existing excellent work.”

James Williams, Project Director for iOrchestra at the Philharmonia Orchestra, commented: “We are absolutely delighted that iOrchestra has been recognised by the Royal Philharmonic Society and we proudly accept this award on behalf of all the wonderful local partner organisations and individuals we have worked with across the South West. iOrchestra has renewed our belief that by removing traditional barriers associated with our artform and presenting it in a fresh and innovative way, that orchestral music has the power to move and inspire people from all backgrounds and that orchestral music can provide a cultural catalyst for change within communities.”