We are delighted to announce some exciting news!
For 200 years, the Royal Philharmonic Society has done much to support and celebrate professional musicians, but it is now seeking to shine a light on the nation’s wealth of amateur music-making and to connect with amateur societies such as Tonbridge Philharmonic Society, especially as we look to re-build following the challenges faced in 2020/21.
Connecting with the RPS is also a chance to connect to some of the luminaries of the classical music profession. On Wednesday 24 March, RPS will co-host a Zoom session especially for TPS members, plus patrons and friends, giving us the chance to meet and talk to star baritone Roderick Williams. He’ll talk – with RPS Chief Executive James Murphy – about his life in music, and how much he’s treasured collaborating with amateur choirs and orchestras throughout his career.
Madeline Smith, Relationships Manager at the RPS, says: ‘Hello! We’re so looking forward to meeting you. It’s the first time the RPS has done this, and we’re grateful to TPS for exploring with us what good we can cultivate through connection. We’ll also be pleased to tell you more about RPS Membership, which may well interest you, given your love of music. We like to think of it as a musical equivalent to the Royal Horticultural Society, here to further your curiosity, pride and sense of connection with what makes Britain ‘philharmonic’. It’s thanks to our members that we can do our charitable work, supporting and connecting musicians nationally, so we’re always so grateful to anyone who might like to consider becoming a member, or consider gift membership for friends or relatives who love classical music themselves.’
Robert Skone James, Chair of Tonbridge Philharmonic Society, says ‘We are very excited to be selected by the RPS for the first contact of this kind with an amateur ensemble. We hope that this collaboration will be rewarding for both organisations. We are grateful for all the help they plan to give us as we finally move out of lockdown and back towards physical playing and singing.’