The Performance Circle Fund: Hastings International Piano and the Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra

Hastings International Piano are delighted to be partnering with the Royal College of Music in the creation of a new graduate orchestra – The Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra.

This new orchestra will be based in Hastings, administered by the Hastings International Piano Team and work alongside our charity in the lead up to and during the competition and our important and much needed education programme.

The debut performance of the Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra will take place during the 16th Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition in 2022, when the orchestra will join the 12 Semi-Finalists, under the baton of internationally renowned pianist and conductor Simon Crawford Phillips on stage at the White Rock Theatre in Hastings.

We are committed to creating employment opportunities and supporting recent graduates and therefore need to raise a minimum of £40,000 from our generous and loyal supporters. These funds will be used to pay the £24,000 needed for the fees associated with the 2022 competition and £16,000 to build on our existing, world-class outreach (education) and engagement programme.

After the 2022 Competition the Prince Consort Orchestra will continue to support our outreach projects in Hastings and the surrounding coastal region, introducing orchestral music to children and young people, whilst continuing to employ and develop talented young artists . We currently have projects planned with more than 15 schools in the area and the introduction of the Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra will really cement our position as an organisation who create educational and employment opportunities throughout our community.

Our wish is for this orchestra and its talented young players to have a life beyond its work with the charity and our competition and will therefore be utilising our Hastings International Piano and Royal College of Music names and prestige in the international music world, to ensure that this organisation will enjoy future local, national and international performances and recording opportunities.

How you can help?

We are looking to build a vital syndicate of donors and sponsors to be an integral part of this new orchestra and to help us achieve our ambitious future plans to give the Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra a life beyond the 2022 Hastings International Piano Competition. If this is something you would like to be a part of, please contact Ian Roberts, Managing Director on 07971191582 or email ian.roberts@hastingsinternationalpiano.org

Supporters will be invited to exclusive events with the orchestral players and will be kept abreast of the progress and development of this new ambitious project.