MANCHESTER CAMERATA, LED BY MUSIC DIRECTOR
GÁBOR TAKÁCS-NAGY, UNVEILS 2026-27 SEASON OF CONCERTS ACROSS GREATER MANCHESTER AND LONDON ALONGSIDE
GROUNDBREAKING COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE WORK
- AMC Gospel Choir, pianist Ethan Loch, Kantos Chamber Choir, composer Rushil Ranjan and soprano Ying Fang announced as Artistic Partners for
2026-2029
- Second edition of Here We Are, a series of free concerts in community spaces across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester
- Collaborations with world-class soloists and conductors including Manchester Camerata Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy, conductor Christoph Altstaedt, pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, and violist Timothy Ridout
- Multi-award-winning composer and jazz saxophonist Nubya Garcia has written her first cello concerto, specifically for Camerata Principal Cellist Hannah Roberts, in collaboration with Manchester Camerata and Factory International
- Manchester Camerata’s trailblazing Music in Mind programme continues, hosting Music Cafés across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester encouraging communication and interaction through music-making with those living with dementia and their carers
- Now in its fourth year, the ABO-award winning Camerata 360° Ruth Sutton Fellowship continues, supporting northern-based musicians with invaluable training with the aim of retaining talent in the north of England and tackling regional inequality in the orchestral sector
The pioneering orchestra, Manchester Camerata, today [9 July] announces its 2026-27 season. A typically bold and versatile season sees the orchestra collaborate with AMC Gospel Choir, pianist Ethan Loch, Kantos Chamber Choir, composer Rushil Ranjan and soprano Ying Fang who here become the orchestra’s 2026-29 Artistic Partners.
The world-renowned, award-winning conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy continues as Music Director – a post he has held since 2010. Manchester Camerata’s 2026-27 season sees him perform with Camerata Leader Caroline Pether and Ying Fang.
As well as its world-class performances, Manchester Camerata continues its award-winning health and wellbeing work. This part of the orchestra’s work is spearheaded by its Music in Mind programme in which world-leading researchers from The University of Manchester collaborate with Camerata musicians and staff to improve the lives of those living with dementia and their carers. Central to this work is the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia, hosted by Manchester Camerata since 2024. Through this initiative, the orchestra has been hosting free Music Cafés across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, embedding itself in local communities.
Clara Marshall Cawley, Head of Artistic Planning at Manchester Camerata, said:
“At Manchester Camerata we believe in continually pushing the boundaries of what a 21st-century orchestra can be and what the impact is that it can make. We launch our 2026-27 season with a new roster of Artistic Partners who represent the breadth of programming that is core to our identity.
Highlights in the season include a brand-new commission from jazz superstar Nubya Garcia, the return of Here We Are across Greater Manchester, as well as welcoming back artists such as Timothy Ridout and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. Once again, we feature principal players as guest soloists, and also as chamber musicians as part of the Monastery Series. None of what we do would be possible without the vision of our Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy, whose energy is at our heart – the belief in the power of music to bring about human connection for all.”
Manchester Concerts and Artistic Partners
Here We Are, a celebration of music across Greater Manchester in which Manchester Camerata performs in unexpected places and brings orchestral music directly to people, returns in September [15-20 Sep]. The inaugural Here We Are took place in October 2025 and is an example of Manchester Camerata reaching out directly to audiences, with free pop-up performances across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs. It emphasises the accessibility and diversity of classical music; in 2025, Here We Are reached more than 4,000 people including families and first-time concertgoers. Ethan Loch is one of the headliners at the 2026 edition in which he performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at the Monastery, conducted by Christoph Altstaedt [18 Sep]. There will be open rehearsals earlier in the week at the Monastery, as well as contemporary programming and family shows. More details to be announced soon.
The Monastery Series – intimate and relaxed lunchtime concerts in the inspiring setting of Camerata’s home in Gorton – returns from October 2026. Gorton is a socio-economically deprived area of Greater Manchester and has been home to the orchestra since 2021. The series provides access to classical music for members of the Gorton community, including £3 tickets for locals. Those in attendance include people from local SEND colleges and schools and from the Music Cafés, uniting various groups in the local community. The series has attracted more than 200 audience members since January 2026.
The first concert in The Monastery Series features Ravel’s String Quartet and is programmed by Camerata’s leader, Caroline Pether [7 Oct]. A festive programme including an arrangement of critically acclaimed composer Nick Martin’s Vocalise will be performed by all five Camerata cellists in the lead up to Christmas [2 Dec]. In spring 2027, the Camerata 360° Chamber Ensemble will perform alongside Fellows and Residents [28 Apr]. A Camerata wind quintet also performs a programme [23 Jun]. Further Monastery concerts are listed below with more to be announced in due course.
Prize-winning conductor Jacobus de Jager leads Manchester Camerata in his final concert as the Mills Williams Junior Fellow in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music, with cellist Chloe Chen, a student of Camerata Principal Cellist Hannah Roberts [29 Sep]. Chloe will perform Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme as part of a wider programme.
Continuing its collaboration with leading universities, Manchester Camerata is hosting an afternoon of music at Stoller Hall in which the orchestra performs excerpts from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 ‘Pastoral’ to people with hearing loss [29 Oct]. This is part of the Cadenza Project – a five-year research programme involving Leeds, Nottingham, Salford, and Sheffield universities. The aim of the programme is to learn how to improve music for people with hearing loss.
Manchester Camerata Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy conducts a programme at Stoller Hall including Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony and Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending with Camerata leader Caroline Pether as soloist [30 Oct].
Manchester Camerata performs in the hall at the iconic venue New Century with Greater Manchester post-punk band, Chameleons [5 Dec].
The orchestra celebrates Christmas in classic style with its annual performance of Handel’s beloved oratorio, Messiah, with Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus at Sheffield City Hall [5 Dec] and with Artistic Partner Kantos Chamber Choir conducted by Laurence Cummings at the Monastery [6 Dec]. This is followed by a Manchester Camerata tradition, Festive Happening – a Christmas gospel celebration – with Camerata Artistic Partner AMC Gospel Choir at the Albert Hall, Manchester [20 Dec]. And to cap its festive celebrations, the orchestra performs musical theatre anthems and Christmas classics at AO Arena with Manchester Vocal Ensemble alongside theatre stars such as Michael Ball and Loren Allred across two evenings [22-23 Dec].
Manchester Camerata Artistic Partner, Kantos Chamber Choir, performs at Stoller Hall with the orchestra conducted by the choir’s founding director, RPS-nominated Ellie Slorach [12 Feb]. The programme comprises music by Bach and Caroline Shaw and features Camerata leader Caroline Pether and Camerata Principal Viola Alex Mitchell as soloists.
Camerata Principal Cellist Hannah Roberts performs a new Cello Concerto written specifically for her by multi-award-winning composer Nubya Garcia, created in collaboration with Manchester Camerata and Factory International [18 Mar].
The orchestra performs an immersive concert at Victoria Baths, a Grade II listed building in Greater Manchester [3 Apr]. More details to be announced soon.
Manchester Camerata’s critically acclaimed flagship concert and recording series Mozart, Made in Manchester continues with soprano Ying Fang and Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy at Stoller Hall [15 Apr]. The orchestra will perform Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 ‘Haffner’ and No. 38 ‘Prague’ alongside various arias.
Long-time Manchester Camerata collaborator, pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, performs three of Haydn’s piano concertos at Stoller Hall as part of a wider programme including the composer’s Symphony No. 47 [29 May].
Renowned, award-winning violist Timothy Ridout performs Vasks’ Concerto for Viola and String Orchestra as part of a programme that also includes Mozart’s overture to The Marriage of Figaro and Brahms’ Serenade No. 2 at Stoller Hall [10 Jun].
London Concerts
Manchester Camerata maintains a firm presence in London as well as its home city. Camerata leader Caroline Pether performs at Wigmore Hall with Camerata Principal Cellist Hannah Roberts in a programme of Haydn’s piano trios with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet [8 Feb]. Bavouzet takes his Haydn programme to Wigmore Hall on the anniversary of the composer’s passing [31 May]. And Timothy Ridout performs Vasks’ Concerto for Viola and String Orchestra at Kings Place as part of the wider programme including Mozart and Brahms [11 Jun].
Impact off the Stage
Manchester Camerata makes the most of music as a tool for expression, communication and social connection. As well as its concerts, this is encapsulated in its impact off stage.
The orchestra’s internationally renowned Music in Mind programme improves lives across Greater Manchester in the education and health & social care sectors. The programme stems from a partnership with The University of Manchester, established in 2012, which led in 2024 to Manchester Camerata hosting the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia.
Music in Mind involves training professional carers in music-therapy based techniques and delivering Music Cafés across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. It also means empowering young people in schools, such as the orchestra’s long-standing work with Webster Primary School in the centre of Manchester helping to embed music-making into daily life across the curriculum.
The Camerata 360° Ruth Sutton Fellowship offers northern-based musicians performance and community training, aiming to retain talent in the north of England thereby tackling regional inequality in the orchestral sector. The Fellowship is open to musicians based in Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas and is a long-term commitment to talent development and excellence in the north of England.
