Aurora Classroom Year in Review 🎶

We’ve been reminiscing about our 2025 concert with Abel Selaocoe at Southbank Centre – a brilliant day of music, energy and plenty happening behind the scenes. Here are a few moments from the day that you might not have seen.

We're deeply saddened to hear of the death of our colleague and friend Ximo Clemente. Ximo performed with us on multiple memorised projects: not only was he a wonderful performer and we were so lucky to share a stage with him, but he was never without a smile on his face or a kind word for our team.

We did it! Thanks to your support, we've reached our £250,000 Life-Changing Music Campaign target. With match funding, that's an incredible £500,000 raised to mark Aurora's 20th anniversary year.

The reviews are in! Here's a round-up of what the critics had to say about our latest performance of Mahler's First Symphony at the BBC Proms.

Our Artistic Director, Jane Mitchell, shares her creative journey behind our upcoming BBC Proms performance of Mahler's First Symphony. Discover the unexpected connection between Mahler and Sigmund Freud, and how our unique memorisation process has evolved over the past 13 years.

Actors Jack Bardoe and Sarah Twomey will be joining us for the following performances of Mahler's First by Heart. 🗓 Wed 29 July, Saffron Hall 🗓 1 & 2 August, BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall Book now for the BBC Proms: www.auroraorchestra.com/event/bbc-pr... 📸 Ruth Crafer & Studio Butter

We’re excited to announce Johnny Langridge as our new Chief Executive. Johnny joins us from Solomon’s Knot, where he’s been Executive Director since 2022.

Here’s what the press our saying about our current Mozart’s Jupiter tour - only 4 more opportunities to hear one of Mozart's "crowning glories" and become immersed within the music.

We loved performing outside The Apex in Bury St Edmunds on Thursday! It was wonderful to see so many of you dancing along to Mozart’s Jupiter 💃 📸 Geoff Price

Want to hear more about the inspiration of our current Mozart’s Jupiter tour? Tom Service joined our Artistic Director and Principal Flautist Jane Mitchell at rehearsals to discuss the creative process behind reimagining the concert experience and finding new ways to bring you closer to the music.

BBC Radio 3 - Saturday Morning, Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali on bringing Nordic landscapes to the concert hall

Tom Service talks to the dynamic Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali.

bbc.co.uk

We've been shortlisted for not one, but two OPUS KLASSIK awards! The first for our Beethovenfest Bonn performance of Shostakovich's Fifth by Heart last year and the second for our Warner Classics album of Abel Selaocoe's Cello Concerto 'Four Spirits'. 📸 Julian Guidera

As Artistic Director of @auroraorchestra.bsky.social, Jane Mitchell has been thinking about what an orchestra can and should be for the past 20 years. Join us at 3pm on Monday 4 May for a talk exploring what it takes to create and sustain an orchestra. www.music.ox.ac.uk/event/26-05-...

We are back with Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon at the BBC Proms this summer with none other than... Mahler's First Symphony! 📸 Chris Christodoulou

In breaking news, @auroraorchestra.bsky.social has been completely bloody amazing again. (I missed the original Rite of Spring performance at Proms 2023. SO glad they decided to revisit it.)

The Rite by Heart | Southbank Centre

southbankcentre.co.uk

★★★★★ The Rite by Heart @auroraorchestra.bsky.social #MultitudesFestival @southbankcentre.bsky.social - with an exhilarating display of changing rhythms & moods, this semi-dramatised evening was as illuminating as it was exhilarating, says @hallibee1.bsky.social www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Wait until the end for a special surprise 👀 Introducing our actors for our dramatised introduction to The Rite by Heart. 🗓️ Sat 11 April @brittenpearsarts (sold out) 🗓️ Thu 16 April @southbankcentre www.auroraorchestra.com/event/the-ri...

An introduction to 10 of the female violinists who are leading British orchestras: www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/features/fem...

We're looking forward to performing Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand with the incredible Nicholas McCarthy, Pianist this Friday at Snape Maltings. He caught up with Petroc Trewlany on BBC Radio 3's In Tune ahead of our weekend of concerts. Listen now www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

In Tune - Louise Alder and Nicholas McCarthy - BBC Sounds

Live music from pianist Nicholas McCarthy and soprano Louise alder with Joseph Middleton.

bbc.co.uk

Echoes of Youth from the Aurora principals at @kingsplacelondon.bsky.social @auroraorchestra.bsky.social ✍️ Mark Valencia bachtrack.com/review-auror...

Join us for a fully memorised dinner performance. Let the sounds of Mozart's Jupiter Symphony wash over you as you enjoy a three-course meal against the beautiful backdrop of Alexandra Palace's Theatre. Find out more: www.auroraorchestra.com/event/immers... 📸 Jake Davis

One week left to apply! We’re hiring a Development Manager. If you’re a passionate fundraiser who wants to support and grow the orchestra’s fundraising activity, we’d love to hear from you. 🗓 Deadline: 9am, Friday 20 March Find out more and apply at www.auroraorchestra.com/2026/02/deve...

Development Manager – job opportunity - Aurora Orchestra

Aurora is seeking a Development Manager to lead individual giving and events at one of the UK’s most distinctive orchestras.

auroraorchestra.com

"We've been awarded funding by the Music Export Growth Scheme to support our upcoming tour to Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland! We can't wait to bring our memorised performance of Stravinsky's explosive Rite of Spring to Europe.

Are you a fundraiser who thrives on building relationships and creating memorable donor experiences? We are looking for a Development Manager to join our team!

Familiar faces return for our upcoming dramatisations of The Rite of Spring at the Southbank Centre and Snape Maltings. Karl Queensborough reprises his 2023 role as Stravinsky and Sarah Twomey (Shostakovich's Fifth Unwrapped, 2025) takes on the multifaceted role of Stravinsky's collaborators.

Our Learning Director, Rebecca Barnett, wrote a feature for Primary Music Magazine's spring issue, revealing the secrets behind our creative learning programme, Aurora Classroom. Read at : issuu.com/primarymusic...

We’ve been nominated for BBC Music Magazine's 2026 Premiere Award for our recording of Abel Selaocoe's joyful Cello Concerto Four Spirits, and we need your help to win! Vote for Four Spirits at www.classical-music.com/awards/2026-... 📸 Julian Guidera

We are recruiting a new Chief Executive! As John Harte steps down after 16 years, Aurora is seeking an inspirational new Chief Executive. 📸 Andy Paradise/BBC

Saw this at the Proms and loved it. Too right I’m going again. Rite of Spring Southbank Centre 16 April @auroraorchestra.bsky.social www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the...

The Rite by Heart | Southbank Centre

southbankcentre.co.uk

From the bar to the mountain peak – and back down for a Star Wars medley 🏔️