NCEM
SUPPORTING
TALENT
AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

NCEM
SUPPORTING

TALENT
AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

From 2014-2023 the National Centre for Early Music worked in partnership with colleagues across Europe to support talented young ensembles working in the field of early music.

Celebrating our collective European musical heritage, the EEEmerging+ project enabled the NCEM to host residencies, recordings and workshops.  Mentoring and supporting the ensembles’ professional development in a remarkably collaborative, supportive and positive working environment, we succeeded in creating careers and developing new audiences for early music.

At the heart of the project was an understanding that ensembles cannot build a career alone – it takes a network of friends and supporters and time to build their lives together as a group, and to sustain an international career.

Engaging with

49

European Ensembles

From Prague to Dusseldorf,
Latvia to York.
Bringing Talent together.

Engaging with 49 European Ensembles

From Prague to Dusseldorf,
Latvia to York.
Bringing Talent together.

Palisander Recorder Quartet worked to support York Hospital staff

Over

266

musicians began their journey with us at the NCEM

EEEmerging+ offered vital rehearsal time, coaching, support with stage technique, administration, marketing and communication.

Over 266 musicians began their journey with us at the NCEM

EEEmerging+ offered vital rehearsal time, coaching, support with stage technique, administration, marketing and communication.

Les Contre Sujets worked at the NCEM with dancers from Paris & Leeds

International Young Artists Competition 2017 Winners Barroco Tout

2,500 Children engaged with our family friendly events

2,500
Children engaged with our family friendly events

Concerto di Margherita with pupils from Heworth School
Consone Quartet streamed live to primary schools across North Yorkshire

Over

3,570

People of all ages
attended our concerts

Over 3,570 People of all ages attended our concerts

An audience of over

66,500

viewed our concerts online at the NCEM.co.uk website

Throughout Covid we worked with young musicians online - offering them workshops, mentoring, training and, vitally, moral support at a very difficult time for young professionals.

We are proud to have developed a pan-Europe reputation for the excellence of our digital training.

An Audience of Over 66,500 viewed our concerts online at the NCEM.co.uk website

Throughout Covid we worked with young musicians online - offering them workshops, mentoring, training and, vitally, moral support at a very difficult time for young professionals.

We are proud to have developed a pan-Europe reputation for the excellence of our digital training.

NCEM inspired conversations around sustainable touring

In October 2022, the NCEM was proud to initiate its first UK tour – promoting the Spanish instrumental ensemble El Gran Teatro del Mundo across 6 venues.

Opening at the NCEM and partnering with Cambridge Early Music Festival; BBC Radio 3; Turner Sims, University of Southampton; Lakeside Arts, University of Nottingham and St George’s, Bristol.

Brexit brought many challenges and from 2023, we stepped aside from the EEEmerging programme which is funded by Creative Europe. We wish our colleagues well.

NCEM’s artists’ development programme continues apace - working with cultural organisations across the UK and Europe wide.

KEEPING THE MUSIC ALIVE

The NCEM supports the ever-increasing number of UK based young professionals who need time, space and recording opportunities to hone their skills as an ensemble negotiating their pathway from conservatoire to public stage.

New Generation Baroque Ensemble

In 2019 we initiated a new partnership with the Royal College of Music and BBC Radio 3. The New Generation Baroque Ensemble scheme is now in its third year – currently supporting Ensemble Augelletti with recordings, workshops, concerts and mentoring – and promoting an annual Development Day for rising baroque ensembles.

Young Composers Award

The NCEM’s Composers Award – now in its 17th year – draws together young composers with professional music ensembles – creating new pieces, developing networks, offering vital broadcasting opportunities thanks to an ongoing partnership with BBC Radio 3.

York International Young Artists Competition

Our biennial York Young Artists Competition continues to attract ensembles from across Europe lured by the prizes of working with BBC Radio 3 and recording a professional CD at the NCEM with Linn Records. The recording of medievalists Sollazzo won a highly prestigious ‘Diapason d’Or’ and the 2023 recording by the Protean Quartet is already receiving considerable attention. 

Minster Minstrels

Our youth music group – The Minster Minstrels – meets weekly to learn about early music performance style in a partnership supported by York Music Hub, York Music Education and Mayfield Valley Arts Trust.

NCEM Platform Artists

The NCEM Platform Artists’ programme celebrates exceptional young ensembles taking part in the annual York and Beverley Early Music Festivals.

The NCEM is a UK Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation. Our young artists professional development programme is funded by a variety of trust funds - most vitally the Mayfield Valley Arts Trust and John Feldberg Foundation - alongside commercial sponsors and NCEM Patrons.

If you would like to help us keep music making in the UK alive - and ensure that we can continue to compete on the international stage - join us as an NCEM Patron and make a difference.

BECOME A PATRON

NCEM’s European Partners 2014-2023

Centre culturel de rencontre d’Ambronay, France

Athens Conservatoire,
Greece

National Forum of Music, Wroclaw, Poland

Seviqc Brezice Festival, Slovenia

Bucharest University, Romania

Festival Torroella
de Montgri, Spain

Internationale
Handel-Festipiele Gottingen, Germany

Ghilierimusica, Pavia,
Italy

Festival Kvarner, Opatija, Croatia

Riga Early Music Centre, Latvia

National Centre for Early Music, York, UK