Community music project celebrates Manchester’s creativity and cultural ambition

Back in January 2018, amateur musicians from across the city came together to create a new musical initiative designed to engage the local community and inspire people to be creative with classical music – from amateurs who haven’t played in years to dedicated musicians looking for a new challenge.

Led by Allied London’s Jonathan Raine and mentored by musicians from Manchester Camerata, who opened Glastonbury last year and have been described by the Times as ‘Britain’s most adventurous orchestra’, the group has been meeting regularly at Old Granada Studios over the past four months to work on a series of new pieces by emerging young composers.

All of the music has been specially written for the Collective and is inspired by the city, its buildings and its people in a very unique way.

Now Allied London and Manchester Camerata have announced the first public performance and social event for the St. John’s Collective.

It’s your chance to hear the Collective for the first time in public and to meet the people involved in this project.

The evening will feature the premier of Jonathan Raine’s Symphony of Enterprise together with works from University of Manchester students Max Bilbe, Pierre Flasse, Will Frampton, Dom Matthews and Dan Nolan.

It promises to be a very special celebration of Manchester’s creativity and the future of St. John’s as a new neighbourhood of enterprise and culture.

The performance will raise money in aid of Big Change, a charity working to make it easier for people who are homeless to get the help they need.

“This project has been two years in the making, and it’s been a pleasure to work with so many enthusiastic musicians who’ve joined us from all over Manchester to be a part of it,” said Allied London corporate director, Jonathan Raine.

“The St. John’s Collective has demonstrated the city’s creativity and the power of something new and innovative. I look forward to sharing this on the 26th and working with everyone to continue the Collective in some form into the future.”

The event is free, but registration is required with a suggested donation of £10 per person. All proceeds will go to Big Change as part of Allied London’s commitment to tackle homelessness in Manchester.

The performance will be about 60 minutes long and is a standing event. Limited priority seating is available for people who may have difficulty standing.

Old Granada Studios, Thursday 26 April, 7pm. 

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To experience the joy of ensemble playing and be mentored by some of the finest musical talent in the city click here.