Our Vision
Northern Chords Festival has been bringing world-class musical performance to the North East since 2009. During these ‘pandemic years’ we have reflected on the achievements of the past 11 years, and developed a new vision to take the festival forward.
Our vision for Northern Chords Festival’s development is to create strands of work across the professional and community music sectors in the North East that both acknowledge and develop the existing arts scene, through education and community work, professional development for leading musicians from the region, and twice-yearly festivals and associated events. Specifically:
- To create immersive, innovative and intensive shared musical experiences between players and audiences in north-eastern England, through yearly festivals of chamber music, orchestral music and opera
- To nurture and mentor the next generation of professional musicians from the North-East, through a mentoring programme in which young musicians will work directly alongside recognised and high-profile artists.
- To create professional opera in the North East, which is not currently done by anyone else.
Our first opera: Rosina, by Gateshead’s William Shield
Our first operatic project will be William Shield’s Rosina which we will rehearse and premiere in the North East.
Shield (born in Gateshead in 1748) became Master of the Kings Music to King George IV and composed his hit light comic opera Rosina in 1781. It was premiered at Covent Garden (now the Royal Opera House) and went on to have over 70 performances in the following two years.
Can you support us?
Every contribution made by individuals, trusts and foundations, sponsors and festival partners is absolutely crucial in enabling us to stage excellent events and inspiring education activities and we are hugely grateful for our supporters’ generosity.
Ticket sales pay for approximately 12% of the cost of the festival. Even for one of our smaller festivals, the budget can be in the region of £30,000, with artist fees forming just a portion of that, as we also have commissions, travel and accommodation, venue and event costs, marketing, our planning and production team, and of course, our vital education work to consider.
If you have enjoyed the festival and would like to offer your support, please consider joining the Friends of Northern Chords to help secure the future of this exciting, vibrant and valuable festival.
Friends of Northern Chords
Friend of Northern Chords: £100 per year / £10 per month
Acknowledgement on the Festival website and programme
Quarterly newsletter from Artistic Director Jonathan Bloxham
Invitation to the opening reception of Festival
Benefactor of Northern Chords £250 per year / £22 per month
Acknowledgement on the Festival website and programme
Quarterly newsletter from direct from Jonathan Bloxham
Invitation to the opening reception of the Festival
Complimentary Festival programmes
2 Festival Passes to the Newcastle festival in each year of membership
Patron of Northern Chords: £500 per year / £45 per month
Acknowledgement on the Festival website and programme
Quarterly newsletter from direct from Jonathan Bloxham
Invitation to the opening reception of the Festival
Complimentary Festival programmes
Up to 4 Festival Passes to the Newcastle festival in each year of membership
Invitation to attend an Open Rehearsal
Founders’ Circle: £1000 / £85 per month
Northern Chords Festival has been presenting world-class concerts in Newcastle for over 12 years. We’re now working towards a new level of music provision for the North East.
You can read more about our vision, which includes outreach work for children and adults, touring the festival, a mentorship programme for the North East’s future talent, and making opera locally, on our ‘About page.
We are looking for high level supporters who can help us transform Northern Chords into an all-encompassing festival, making quality music in communities in the North East, and taking the work we have created all over the world.
Acknowledgement on the Festival website and programme
Quarterly newsletter from direct from Jonathan Bloxham
Invitation to the opening reception of the Festival
Complimentary Festival/opera programmes
Up to 6 tickets to all Festival events, including opera, in Newcastle in each year of membership
Up 6 tickets to Festival events, including opera, in touring venues in each year of membership
Invitation to attend an Open Rehearsal
A special opportunity to meet the artist of your choice, in person at the festival (schedule permitting) or via Zoom
Founding Patron of Northern Chords Opera: £2500 per year / £210 per month
Can you stand with us as we take on our biggest challenge yet?
We want to become producers of opera in the North East – something that isn’t currently done by anyone else.
Our first opera will be Gateshead-born William Shield’s Rosina, which will be created and performed in Newcastle in 2022 and subsequently toured.
In order to make this happen, we are looking for an exclusive group of supporters who are able to help us achieve this vision.
Acknowledgement on the Festival website and programme
Quarterly newsletter from direct from Jonathan Bloxham
Invitation to the opening reception of the Festival
Complimentary Festival/opera programmes
Complimentary tickets for your party to all Festival events in Newcastle in each year of membership
Complimentary tickets for your party to Festival events in touring venues in each year of membership
Invitation to attend rehearsals and watch the opera come to life
A special opportunity to meet the artist of your choice, in person at the festival (schedule permitting) or via Zoom
Complimentary tickets to Donizetti’s Don Pasquale at Glyndebourne On Tour, conducted by Jonathan Bloxham.
To donate to Northern Chords Festival, the bank details are:
Triodos Bank
Sort Code: 165810
Account Number: 21260494
Please could you also email katie@polyphonyarts.com to let us know.
You can set up a standing order or a one-off payment. If you are eligible for Gift Aid, please complete this form and we will be able to claim an additional 25% on top of your donation.
Thank you.
If you would like your donation to contribute towards a particular part of the programme, or to support a particular artist, please do let us know. We are interested in learning about the benefits that are important to you so do get in touch if you’d like to help us refine our offer to our supporters.
Northern Chords Festival is incredibly grateful for the continued support of its partners, trusts and foundations and individuals both past and present. In 2020 we’d like to thank the Finzi Trust and the Catherine Cookson Foundation.
The Festival’s Artistic Director would also like to thank the festival team and musicians, many of whom give their time voluntarily and all with great enthusiasm and dedication.
Northern Chords Festival’s Charity Number is 1172767