Pictured at the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards at the BBC’s Blackstaff studio in Belfast are (LtoR) Allianz's Paul McCann presenting the Award to Ulster Orchestra Chief Executive Declan McGovern and Karen Orchin, Head of Community Relations at JTI receiving her award from Arts Council of Northern Ireland Chair Rosemary Kelly. Also pictured is the Director of Arts & Business NI, Mary Trainor-Nagele.

21 January 2011

Major community award for Ulster Orchestra

A unique partnership between the Ulster Orchestra and JTI that brought Classical music into the lives of thousands of people across Northern Ireland who wouldn’t otherwise have access to orchestral music, won a prestigious prize at the 2011Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards last night.

The partnership has enabled the Orchestra to launch a hugely successful Lunchtime Concert series in the Ulster Hall as well as its Move to the Music project - a ticket and transport scheme which provides elderly people in the Ballymena and Armagh areas with a free door-to-door community transport bus service, concert ticket and a hot drink on arrival at the Ulster Orchestra’s concerts in the Belfast Waterfront.

In addition the partnership has meant that the Ulster Orchestra could travel to Ballymena to put on a Christmas concert and host Christmas Cheer - a free festive concert for 1000 members of community groups in Belfast’s Ulster Hall.

Accepting the award Karen Orchin said: “As a major employer in Northern Ireland, JTI is committed to making the arts more accessible within communities through its support of the Ulster Orchestra. It is great to be acknowledged by Arts & Business and we are really pleased that our partnership has enabled so many local people to enjoy such wonderful music.”

Lydia Gamble, the Orchestra's Head of Marketing and Development who was also at the award ceremony said: “I am delighted that our partnership with JTI UK has been recognised by the Allianz Arts and Business awards for our creative partnership and commitment to bringing classical music to communities across Northern Ireland.”