Defiant stroke survivors hail the power of music
Stroke survivor David Loft found new purpose and joy in life through music therapy with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Strokestra programme.
Stroke survivor David Loft found new purpose and joy in life through music therapy with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Strokestra programme.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) congratulates James Williams, Managing Director, on his appointment as Director of the Royal College of Music (RCM) from September 2024. The RPO already enjoys a close association with the Royal College of Music and looks forward to working with James in the years ahead.
Matthew Knight, Chairman of the RPO comments: ‘On behalf of the musicians and staff at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, I extend heartfelt thanks to James for his leadership and all that he has achieved during his tenure as Managing Director of the RPO. We are delighted that James will remain with us for the entirety of the 2023/24 Season as we continue in our mission to enrich lives through orchestral experiences that are uncompromising in their excellence, wide-ranging in their appeal and inclusive in their delivery.’
Huw Davies, Deputy Managing Director said: ‘Under the artistic leadership of Music Director Vasily Petrenko, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra enjoys an enviable reputation for delivering benchmark performances of the great symphonic repertoire. We look forward to working with James throughout the 2023/24 Season of concerts in London, the UK and internationally and to bringing the excitement of live orchestral music to the widest possible audience.’
For 30 years, RPO Resound has been at the forefront of using music-making to enrich the lives of people in communities across the UK and internationally. Throughout 2023 we’re marking RPO Resound’s 30th Anniversary by exploring some of its life-changing projects. We’re hearing from musicians, practitioners and participants about the impact RPO Resound has had, and looking ahead to the next exciting chapter.
On Wednesday 7 June the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Journeys of Discovery series with Music Director Vasily Petrenko came to a close in Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall with two pieces on the theme of Conflict, from the scale of the interpersonal to the immeasurable tragedies of war, in Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 and Shostakovich's Symphony No.8. Joining the Orchestra was Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, who had performed with us for a tour across his home country in May to a resounding reception.
Read on to see more photos from the evening.