Applications sought from BAME communities for BBC Radio 3 conference exploring greater diversity in classical music composition

The conference aims to facilitate greater inclusion in classical music composition of composers and prospective composers from the UK’s black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.

The one-day event will take place on Wednesday 19 October at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and is hosted in partnership with BASCA, the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Northern College of Music, and in association with the BBC Black and Asian Forum.

It will explore how the future development and excellence of classical music needs to be enriched by full engagement with the widest possible range of artistic and cultural perspectives.

The event will discuss how to boost opportunities for the next generation of composers, and with BAME composers under-represented in classical music, the conference will give a special focus to how the industry can work better together to ensure inclusion and diversity of talent.

A broad spectrum of people involved in classical music-making can now register their interest in attending the conference – from composers, publishers, festival directors, educators and venue managers to orchestral, chamber and operatic managers, funders, commissioners and industry bodies.

Music students and young people with an interest in composition are also encouraged to apply to attend to help reshape the future of the UK’s classical music landscape.

After the Diversity and Inclusion in Composition conference sessions end, a special edition of In Tune presented by Suzy Klein will broadcast live from the event (4.30-6.30pm). Members of the public will be able to attend this broadcast and tickets will be available in September via the In Tune website.

The programme will include talks from the day’s speakers and live music from the BBC Philharmonic, which will play a cross-section of pieces from different periods in musical history by BAME composers.

The programme will also feature performances from students of the Royal Northern College of Music and members of the Chineke! Orchestra – Britain's first professional orchestra of black and ethnic minority musicians.

The conference will be reflected in further BBC Radio 3 programming across the week. From Monday 17th to Friday 21st October, both Breakfast (6.30-9am) and Essential Classics (9-12am) will feature the music of composers from black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities with the former concentrating on British composers and the latter taking an international historic view, while Composer of the Week (Monday-Friday, 12am-1pm) will explore the life and music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) – the composer of works including Hiawatha.

On Saturday 22nd October, Music Matters (12.15-1pm) will present a special edition of the programme recorded at the conference, Sound of Cinema (3-4pm) will explore the contribution black composers have made to cinema , while Hear And Now (10-12pm) will have a special focus on contemporary music by BAME composers – both home and abroad.

The following day, the Early Music Show (Sunday 23rd October, 2-3pm) will focus on the life and music of the 18th Century Guadeloupe composer, Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745 - 1799), often referred to as "the black Mozart". Finally, Saturday Classics will bookend the week (Saturday 15th and 22nd October, 1-3pm) with two programmes presented by the singer and composer Roderick Williams.  

Alan Davey, Controller of BBC Radio 3, said, “BBC Radio 3, and the Third programme before it, has always been a cultural patron and it’s essential we are working with the wider classical and cultural industry to do our bit to reflect and draw on the cultural diversity of the UK.  

"Our Diversity and Inclusion in Composition forum is a stake in the ground to that end.  I said when I started at BBC Radio 3 that I wanted us to look at this area and we are committed to making a difference.

" The more we invest in diversity, the more talent and interesting art will emerge and we’ll be able connect our audiences with even more remarkable music and culture that is reflective of the kind of country we are.

"In our 70th anniversary year, we’ll be looking to take lessons from the forum so that we expand the canon for the future, whilst also inspiring new audiences to connect with music.”

Toks Dada, Programme Coordinator at Town Hall, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, says: “I'm excited to be speaking at the Diversity and Inclusion in Composition conference, which I believe is an important opportunity for Radio 3 to highlight the work taking place across the BBC and the wider music industry to reflect diversity and to discuss what more needs to be done. 

"While great progress is being made, I believe a fundamental change in how the industry operates is needed at all levels to ensure people from all ethnicities and backgrounds are inspired to enjoy and work in classical music.”

Guest speakers at the event include composers Daniel Kidane; Jeffrey Mumford; Priti Paintal; Shirley J. Thompson; Errolyn Wallen; and Raymond Yiu; as well as BBC Radio 3 Controller, Alan Davey; the BBC’s Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Succession, Tunde Ogungbesan; BASCA CEO, Vick Bain; Michelle Castelletti, Artistic Director at the Royal Northern College of Music; Sound And Music Chief Executive, Susanna Eastburn; The Chineke! Foundation founder, Chi-chi Nwanoku; and Toks Dada, Programme Coordinator at Town Hall, Symphony Hall, Birmingham. 

Click here to indicate your interest in receiving a delegate pack and registration form, which will be issued from Friday 19 August.