An orchestra embedded within the community – The London Mozart Players develop a new visionary partnership
On July 15th 2016, The London Mozart Players will be relocating their offices to the premises of St John the Evangelist, a church based in Upper Norwood in the borough of Croydon. With the temporary closure of the Fairfield Halls in July 2016 – where the orchestra’s offices were previously based, this office move will see the LMP become a community-located orchestra. As well as physically relocating, St John’s and the LMP will be launching a visionary joint venture to engage surrounding communities with projects that will further enrich and develop the cultural life of Croydon.
Relocating their offices out of the concert hall, this exciting new partnership and office move will fully integrate the LMP into the heart of the Croydon community. The orchestra will create a new concert series and further develop their highly-regarded community and education programme LMP Voyager. With a parish of over 14,000 people and a history steeped in music, St John’s is already heavily involved in exciting initiatives and projects in the Croydon borough, playing host to various arts festivals. The venue has also been used as a BBC broadcast venue and is becoming increasingly renowned for its acoustic for recordings.
Working closely with Croydon council and developing partnerships with organisations such as Westfield, these projects will be a cultural driving force in the community whilst significant regeneration takes place in the centre of Croydon.
Julia Desbruslais, Executive Director of the LMP commented:
‘By planting the orchestra in the very heart of the community it opens up the potential to develop a new audience, a concert series, educational and community projects and a real vision for the orchestra moving forward. While regeneration projects take place in the centre of Croydon we will be engaging in efforts that will further develop our ties with communities across the Croydon borough, tapping into new areas and securing our place at the centre of all things cultural when the Fairfield re-opens.’
Fr. John Pritchard of St John the Evangelist commented:
‘Since the establishment of St John’s Church in Upper Norwood in 1887, faith and music have been of central importance and practice in SE19. We are a community crammed with artists and musicians; so, it is of immense delight to welcome into St John’s, the London Mozart Players. This joint venture, of St John’s providing a home for the LMP, and the LMP becoming a community centred and located orchestra means that for both of us, life will never be quite the same. Community focus, educational projects, concerts, teaching, charity – opportunities to celebrate and enhance every aspect of the life of our community through the influence of music and a social community.’
The London Mozart Players will be relocating offices on July 15th 2016. The new office address can be found below, phone lines will remain the same. If you are interested in finding out more about the orchestra’s plans, get in touch with us by emailing [email protected].
New office address:
LMP at St John’s,
St John the Evangelist,
Sylvan Road,
Upper Norwood,
LONDON, SE19 2RX
