Arts Council Funding Cut for London Mozart Players
The UK’s longest-established chamber orchestra, founded in 1949, will lose its Arts Council funding as of 1 April 2008.
The London Mozart Players was informed it will not be receiving Arts Council funding as of 1 April 2008. The annual grant contributed to regional residencies in Southampton, Basingstoke and East Lindsey, concerts in outer London boroughs and the education and community programmes associated with these residencies and concerts. The grant also contributed to the running costs of the orchestra. Just before Christmas the LMP was informed it was among almost 200 arts organisations facing a cut in their Arts Council funding. The chamber orchestra prepared its appeal to the Arts Council, but was not successful in reversing the proposed cuts. Antony Lewis-Crosby, Managing Director of the LMP, said “this is a devastating blow for the orchestra as it approaches its 60th year of excellence in the concert hall and with a particular emphasis on education and community programmes in some of the deprived parts of the country. We are determined to survive this blow and find new areas of support for our music-making which is so appreciated wherever we appear.” The LMP has received immense support from local authorities and the public in its appeal and wishes to express their thanks to everyone who wrote to their MP, sent letters to newspapers and showed support in any way. Even though the appeal has not been successful, the LMP is pleased to know so many people support the orchestra. The LMP’s work includes: - Nineteen years of residency in Croydon, supported by the London Borough of Croydon, performing in the international series at Fairfield Hall as well as education and community work throughout the borough.
Six years of ground-breaking residency in the East Lindsey District of Lincolnshire, bringing live classical music to rural communities and reaching more than 6,000 people at concerts and over 10,000 people with its community work in primary, secondary and special schools, care homes and day centres. Performed over 120 concerts in Mozart’s Anniversary year, 2006, including the prestigious Salzburg Festival and the inaugural Saturday matinée BBC Proms series at Cadogan Hall. New residency with The Yehudi Menuhin School, working with their students in concerts and education projects in deprived areas of Surrey. New residencies with Royal Holloway University of London and South Holland District Council. Residencies in Southampton, Basingstoke and Portsmouth. Five world premières in 2006 alone, featuring composers including Michael Omer, Cecilia McDowall, Lynne Plowman and Fraser Trainer and in 2007 with Sally Beamish. Prestigious Contemporaries of Mozart series of CDs with Chandos, conducted by Matthias Bamert, which has continually received critical acclaim over the last decade and frequently features première recordings of eighteenth-century composers. A new series of concerts at Cadogan Hall, London, currently featuring a Beethoven Cycle with pianist Stephen Kovacevich.
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