Becky West, Regional Producer - North, reflects on the growth, impact, and successes of our long-term partnership with Darlington Hippodrome.

This year, our partnership with Darlington Hippodrome reached a pivotal moment. As we looked ahead to the next phase, it was the perfect opportunity to dive into our data to gain valuable insights that will shape the future of the programme.

An evolving partnership

The partnership began in 2016 as the venue underwent extensive refurbishment and was keen to establish an orchestral series. The orchestral presence we built with them is based around an exciting mix of British orchestras, each working with the community around their concert. The orchestras focus on engaging young people in music-making through our Darlo Creates programme. Durham Music Service (DMS) have also been a key partner from the start, working with us to design, shape and target the work with young people.

Here's what we found out through our deep dive:

Audiences are growing

Audiences are on an upward trend, back to pre-pandemic levels and they are positive about their experience. They tell us that bringing high-quality orchestras to Darlington and artistic variety is important, as well as hearing conversation from the stage to learn more about the music. A memorable moment for me was an interval queue at the stage to chat with Orchestras of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) musicians about their period instruments!

We're nurturing young talent

Darlo Creates has developed from small-scale creative projects and workshops surrounding the concert to culmination performances being integrated into the mainstage concert programme as a curtain raiser. Over time, audiences have come to value seeing their young people on stage with the professional orchestra, giving us regular positive feedback.

Projects have also reached a range of age groups with varied levels of current opportunity, from first-time experiences through to the Durham Music Youth Orchestra. Creative projects have supported raising young people’s aspirations and strengthening local music education provision.

We're supporting the next generation

Individual learning has increased and opportunities for young people to meet and hear top class soloists and orchestral musicians bring vital inspiration to progress their instrumental playing and musical development. The encouragement from the professionals makes a big difference to young people’s sense of achievement. Performing as an ensemble in a professional concert is often young people’s ‘magic moment’ and it also enables teachers to raise the profile and recruitment for local youth ensembles too.

We're building a legacy through collaboration

Over time, projects have improved the integration of orchestral musicians and Durham Music Service (DMS) teaching staff, enabling DMS staff to effectively build on a project’s legacy work with schools and young people. The opportunities for school music teachers to work creatively alongside professional performers supports composition teaching and we’ve also provided placement opportunities for trainee music leaders.

The venue is innovating

As our partnership has developed, the venue team have built their approach to orchestral marketing, including producing their own trailer inspired by the famous theme used in an advert from Dvořák’s New World Symphony earlier this year.

Our participant family ticket offer has consistently performed well and brings a range of people into the orchestral concert to support their young people. Data demonstrates that we continue to attract new bookers to the orchestral series as the audience has rebuilt post-pandemic.

Relationships are growing

The key benefit of a long-term approach is simply that it gives the partnership time to develop. It has enabled the partners to build trust, working relationships and an effective model that a variety of orchestras can deliver work within. Over time, this has enabled the relationship between venue, orchestras, audiences and the community to grow. Partners can confidently articulate ‘what works’ in Darlington alongside the expectations of our audience and this supports orchestras in turn to develop their offer for the venue.

Looking ahead to a new season

As we head into the 24/25 season, we can look back at the positive progress we’ve made in overcoming the challenges of the pandemic to growing the season from 2 to 3 concerts this year. Royal Northern Sinfonia are now providing an annual presence in the series, enhancing our ability to connect with music-making across the North East. We’ll be welcoming Manchester Camerata to Darlington for the first time in November with a welcome return from OAE later in the season. With two Darlo Creates world premieres and workshops, it promises to be an exciting season celebrating the talent in Darlington and the wonderful artistry of our professional orchestras.