Press Release: BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET AND ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA ANNOUNCE ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE STUDENT-IN-RESIDENCE

[Jan McNulty]

 

PRESS RELEASE

29 January 2024

PRESS IMAGE HERE (dropbox) HERE (We Transfer)

 

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET AND ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA

ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR’S

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE STUDENT-IN-RESIDENCE

 

 

Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia has announced BMus student flautist Lottie Mahoney as this year’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Student-in-Residence.

 

Lottie has been selected on the 2024 scheme for one year, providing her with an exciting opportunity to work alongside some of the UK’s top classical musicians from BRB’s acclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia, joining them for rehearsals in both London and Birmingham.

 

The scheme is open to musicians from the RBC who are selected through an audition process.

 

Royal Ballet Sinfonia Principal Conductor Paul Murphy said “We’re delighted to welcome Lottie as our third RBC Student-in-Residence. I feel sure that she will benefit enormously from rehearsing with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia over the course of 2024 and, in addition, being mentored by our wonderful colleagues in the flute section.”

 

Lottie, originally from Norfolk, now residing in Birmingham, is currently in the third year of her Bachelor of Music with Honours undergraduate degree at the RBC and has recently played at B:Music’s Birmingham Symphony Hall with the CBSO (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) Youth Orchestra.

 

Lottie commented  “I’m extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to play with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia as their Student-in-Residence. As rehearsals for the company’s The Sleeping Beauty begin, I’m delighted to have the chance to play alongside and learn from members of this terrific orchestra.”

 

Lottie will be the third Student-in-Residence from the RBC. Lucy Samuels a freelance cellist, and the first recipient, is currently the Concerts and Community Co-ordinator for the Orchestra of The Swan and has already played with the Sinfonia. Last year’s Student-in-Residence, French horn player Alex Hocknull, is currently studying for a postgraduate performance qualification at RBC whilst building his portfolio career.

 

Lottie will be rehearsing in Birmingham with the Sinfonia ahead of the UK tour of Sir Peter Wright’s The Sleeping Beauty performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet from February. The tour includes performances at Sadler’s Wells, London, and the company’s home base at Birmingham Hippodrome. Full tour details: www.brb.org.uk/shows/the-sleeping-beauty

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

Birmingham Royal Ballet 

Based at Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Royal Ballet is the United Kingdom’s leading touring ballet company performing a range of traditional, classical and heritage ballets as well as ground-breaking new works with the aim of encouraging choreographers of the future. The Company’s Director since January 2020 is the internationally renowned Carlos Acosta. Birmingham Royal Ballet standardly performs at Birmingham Hippodrome for approximately ten weeks of the year and the remainder of the year tours throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. On average, the Company performs 100 shows a year nationally and internationally. 

 

The Royal Ballet Sinfonia 

The Royal Ballet Sinfonia is Birmingham Royal Ballet’s permanent orchestra, it is also Britain's busiest ballet orchestra. The Sinfonia also plays frequently for The Royal Ballet and other leading ballet companies, including performances with Paris Opéra Ballet, New York City Ballet, Australian Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Kirov, Norwegian Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and La Scala Ballet.

 

Paul Murphy Principal Conductor

BRB recently announced the appointment of Paul as the Company’s new Music Director and Principal Conductor leading the company’s orchestra, the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. He will assume the role on 1 July 2024, following Koen Kessels stepping down as BRB’s Music Director on 30 June 2024.

Paul has been a member of Birmingham Royal Ballet for 31 years since he joined the company in 1992. He was appointed Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Principal Conductor in 1997.

 

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 

RBC is a world class institution providing exceptional training for the musicians, actors, stage managers and performers of the future. RBC’s outstanding facilities attract the best and brightest students to Birmingham, along with internationally renowned performers and teachers. With limitless collaboration opportunities for staff and students, the Conservatoire is a stimulating environment with an international reputation which celebrates diversity.