Nonclassical are commissioning four composers from diverse backgrounds currently taking part in the Nonclassical Artist in Residence (AiR) scheme to write for orchestra.
The four composers are Beatrice Ferreira, Harry Górski-Brown, Kendra ChiagoroNoel and Nneka Cummins. They are seeking to raise £7,500 through online donations during the campaign week. This will be match funded by our Pledgers and Champion (The Reed Foundation) to total £15,000. The Big Give Christmas Challenge is the UK’s biggest fundraising event, taking place from 12pm Tuesday 28 November to 12pm Tuesday 5 December 2023. Two watercolour paintings by Bob and Roberta Smith RA will be auctioned as part of the campaign.
Donate to Nonclassical and see your donation doubled through the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
Nonclassical is taking part in the Christmas Challenge to raise £15,000 in just one week! These donations will be used for Nonclassical AiR (Artists in Residence), supporting four composers to each create a piece for professional orchestra. By donating, you’ll be supporting the creation of four new works which wouldn’t otherwise exist, giving these composers well-deserved space within institutions that are typically difficult to access.
Commissions for orchestra are often rare – especially from emerging artists. We’re commissioning these composers at Musicians Union rates, and offering them supportive mentoring and development time with the orchestra. Nonclassical AiR offers four such artists the opportunity to compose for either Southbank Sinfonia or Her Ensemble, with each work receiving its premiere in 2025. The composers commissioned to write such works represent a diverse cross-section from across the UK in terms of musical style, genre and background. The four highly talented composers are Beatrice Ferreira, Harry Górski-Brown, Kendra Chiagoro-Noel (NWAKKE), and Nneka Cummins, who we selected from an open call of over 250 applicants. Read more about them here.
Development work and commission fees quickly add up to thousands of pounds – significant sums for a charity like ours without core funding. That’s why we’re asking you to be part of
changing history by reshaping who is able to have work commissioned and performed. Please help us remove barriers for these artists so they can dedicate the time necessary to make extraordinary new work, relevant to modern Britain.
With your support, together we can ensure that diverse and underrepresented voices have the opportunity to write for a typically gate-kept artform. DONNE’s shocking 2022 report showed almost 9 in 10 pieces performed by orchestras around the world are written by white men. Isn’t it exciting to imagine another world, where more diverse stories, cultures and backgrounds are represented?
Every donation made will be generously matched by our Big Give Pledgers and our Champion (The Reed Foundation), meaning your money goes twice as far. Ensure your legacy by supporting these commissions, and help usher in four new works that wouldn’t exist otherwise.
Natalia Franklin Pierce, Executive Director at Nonclassical said:
“This is the first time Nonclassical is taking part in the Christmas Challenge – meaning every single donation we receive up to £7,500 will be doubled – a fantastic opportunity to support diverse new voices in contemporary music.
This is a great opportunity to enliven the classical music sector to be more representative of the glorious diversity of the UK.
We hope everyone gives generously so we can continue delivering the work we feel so passionately about during these uncertain times and without core funding – supporting the next generation of artists from any background to have rare opportunities like this and giving new audiences to classical music a sense of belonging by hearing work written by people like them.”
How can you get involved?
● Set a reminder to make a donation from 12pm noon on Tuesday the 28 November to 12pm noon on Tuesday 5 December 2023, adding our campaign page to it so you don’t miss your chance to double your donation to Nonclassical!
● Visit BigGive.org during the campaign week to double your donation.
● Share our campaign by email, tweet, Facebook post, Instagram or LinkedIn.
● Let the world know you’ve supported us to encourage others to follow suit by sharing!
