Royal Albert Hall launches associate artists programme

The Royal Albert Hall has announced the launch of its associate artists programme. The hall’s first four associate artists will be saxophonist Jess Gillam, organist Anna Lapwood, choreographer Corey Baker, and spoken-word performer LionHeart.

The artists will present shows and commission as well as running initiatives designed to increase young people’s engagement with the hall. Each associate artist will focus on a different area of public conversation with Lapwood commissioning young female composers, Baker focusing on sustainability and LionHeart promoting mental health.

Saxophonist and presenter Jess Gillam will use her new role to expand saxophone repertoire, commissioning a concerto for the instrument. She is passionate about introducing classical music to the next generation and will present a live showcase of players from the hall’s Future Makers scheme in November.

She said: ‘So many important social and cultural moments have taken place within these walls, and I want to bring those stories to life, to find those connections between past and present, and share the magic of those memories with young people.’

Lapwood, a broadcaster, conductor and organist who has found fame on the social media platform TikTok, will perform at the hall’s 150^th anniversary organ gala. She said: ‘To make classical music more accessible, we first have to diversify the repertoire... Then we need to communicate differently: social media like TikTok is helping to remove many of the socio-economic barriers that have been in the way. ’

You can find out more about the Royal Albert Hall here.