Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra acknowledged by Portsmouth

A city’s authority has reflected on its near-100-year relationship with an orchestra ahead of two concerts.

Portsmouth City Council acknowledged the contribution of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) both within and beyond Portsmouth Guildhall, including performances for local schoolchildren and accessible concerts for people with disabilities.

Founded in 1893, the BSO shares a long-standing connection with Portsmouth, such as in 1959 when it was invited to perform at the reopening of the Guildhall by Queen Elizabeth II.

The Guildhall has remained a key venue for the orchestra, hosting regular concert seasons from the 1960s to the present day.

BSO chief executive Dougie Scarfe addressed the council’s cabinet decision meeting, and said the orchestra existed to “bring music into peoples lives” and to foster “cultural engagement, creativity, opportunity and well-being in our communities”.

He said the BSO brought world class musicians from the UK and across the world to Portsmouth each year with “probably the most accessible UK pricing for this quality of music”.

Scarfe highlighted the Sea Change concert, which gave 1,326 children the opportunity to experience the “awesome sounds of a symphony orchestra”.

He also noted the orchestra’s investment in live streaming, which he said had helped address barriers to cultural access, pointing out that live stream audiences were about 50% more likely to identify as disabled compared to in-hall audiences.

Scarfe thanked the council for its continued support, which totals £22,500 this financial year.

He added that while the grant had “reduced in real terms by 65% since 2010 it remains vital to our work as your support helps us secure investment from Arts Council England and enables BSO to leverage significant funds through fundraising”.

Steve Pitt, leader of the council, said he planned to attend one of the two concerts in Guildhall Square in August and encouraged residents to buy tickets.

The BSO will perform a John Williams concert on 1 August, followed by an ABBA Symphonic Spectacular on 2 August.