Church of St Gregory Development Project

March 2011

University Celebrates Partnership with Southbank Sinfonia

On 30th March, Canterbury Christ Church University celebrated its new partnership with the Southbank Sinfonia (SbS), formed as part of the St Gregory's Project, with a landmark concert in Canterbury Cathedral. The conductor for the concert was the Sinfonia's Patron, world renowned artist Vladimir Ashkenazy and cellist Raphael Wallfisch and the Sacconi String Quartet were the guest artists for SVladimir Ashkenazy Conductschumann's Cello Concert and Elgar's Introduction and Allegro. The concert, which was attended by an audience of nearly 700, concluded with Vaughan William's Symphony No 5.

At a pre-concert VIP reception attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Canterbury, the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robin Baker, spoke warmly of the potential offered by the new partnership between SbS and the University and of their shared values. He said the concert demonstrated that one of the goals of the St Gregory's Project - bringing artists of international repute to Kent - was already being realised. He paid tribute to the Sinfonia's Chairman, Simon Berman, for all his work in helping forge the partnership.

The St Gregory's Project Manager, Professor Grenville Hancox, the University's Director of Music said "it is an extraordinary privilege to have a musician of Vladimir Ashkenazy's calibre visiting Canterbury.  This concert is a wonderful celebration of everything the St Gregory's Project aims to achieve - bringing the University, its students and staff together with musicians of international reputation to create opportunities for music that engage the whole community.

The University would like to thank Canterbury Cathedral for the generous use of the Cathedral Quire for this occasion, as well as sponsors and supporters Hazle McCormack Young LLP, Canterbury Music Club, Music at St Peters, Crowthers Music and Mr and Mrs John Shipton.