The UO's Head of Marketing & Development, Lydia Gamble receiving the Best Marketing Initiative Award from Lord Rogan, Chairman of Stakeholder, the communications agency who sponsored the category.

15 April 2011

 Ulster Orchestra hits top business notes

For the second time in four months the Ulster Orchestra has won a major award. The UO hit all the right notes at the Belfast Business Awards at Belfast City Hall last night when we picked up the award for Best Marketing Initiative.

Lydia Gamble, Head of Marketing and Development at the UO was delighted with the achievement. “We were pitched against businesses whose marketing is first class, organisations like W5, Victoria Square and Translink, so to win is an incredible achievement by everyone at the Ulster Orchestra,” she said.

Organised by Belfast City Council and Belfast City Centre Management, organisations had to demonstrate over the last three years ‘excellence and outstanding achievements in developing and implementing a marketing strategy that has delivered measurable business benefits such as increased profit, sales, usage or awareness.’

“The Ulster Orchestra has within its ranks some of the most talented musicians in Ireland and the UK. Our award submission focussed on our re-fresh of the Ulster Orchestra brand through the use of players and also return on investment for marketing spend with regard to direct mail campaigns,” Lydia explained.

“With so many music and arts events taking place throughout the year, concerts don’t sell themselves, so we need an equally talented team behind the scenes working to make it happen - and that includes our designers, Design Ethos,” she continued.

“Our main Concert Season lasts from September to May and takes in over 30 concerts, but each year we would average 80 to 90 performances in venues as diverse as the Royal Albert Hall, the Alley Theatre in Strabane and the Gardens of Hillsborough Castle.

“In all we do, our aim is to ‘enrich life through music’ and as Northern Ireland’s only symphony Orchestra I believe we are a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s diverse cultural life that helps drive the cultural and tourist economy of the City. This award is welcome recognition of our contribution to the City’s economic life."