News and Reviews

News: Association of British Orchestras' Conference comes to Derby in 2011
April 20 2010

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Musicians from across the country will be heading to Derby in 2011 for an annnual conference of orchestras.

The Association of British Orchestras chose to hold the event at the Assembly Rooms after a successful pitch by a city delegation.

The three-day event will see around 250 members visit the city and will also include an exclusive concert. The Association opted for Derby after meeting with John Forkin, director of Marketing Derby, Derby Live director Peter Ireson, and Peter Helps, Chief Executive of sinfonia ViVA.

Mr Helps is a member of the Association and helped facilitate the meeting. Marketing Derby is a private/public sector organisation set up to promote the city to investors.

Mr Forkin said that attracting the Association was a coup for Derby as in previous years it had held its conferences in larger cities such as Cardiff and Manchester.

He said: "We're delighted that the Association has chosen to come to Derby. The city needs to attract more high profile conferences, which help to bring in more visitors and boost the local enconomy. It would be fair to say that, a couple of years ago, Derby did not have the capability to host large conferences because we did not have the hotels. But we now have the accommodation, so we should be pitching for these conferences."

"At the meeting with the Association of British Orchestras, we showed a promotional film about the city. We also told them how the city was developing its cultural offer, with events such as Feste and the annual concert in Darley Park."

"The key is getting on the radar of these organisations. We know there are a number of people in Derby who sit on various national boards. Marketing Derby is prepared to work with them and help them push Derby's name forward for these events."

Mr Helps said: "I'm very proud that the conference will be held in Derby. Not only does it atract a number of important figures in music, it also sees people from America, Canada and Brazil coming."

Mr Ireson said: "This successful pitch is a really good example of different orgaisations working in partnership. I am looking forward to welcoming the Association."

Robin Johnson, Derby Evening Telegraph. Article reproduced by kind permission.