9:00 am, December 3, 2019
LOOKERS has struck up a sponsorship agreement with Royal Northern Sinfonia as part of its support for talent in the north-east of England.
The motor retailer will be helping the world-class chamber orchestra as it tours, giving more than 80 performances and education workshops each year.
RNS travels across the north-east, north-west, Yorkshire and the Humber, offering people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to classical music the chance to see concerts or take part in music education sessions.
As part of the agreement, Lookers will provide the free lease of a Ford Luton L4 Transit van for three years, which RNS will use to transport its instruments.
Lookers has also supplied livery for the vehicle, giving it a distinctive look as it travels to churches, community centres, hospitals and shopping centres.
RNS, which last year celebrated its 60th year and is based at music and arts venue Sage Gateshead, comprises 37 resident musicians. Last year, the orchestra reached a live audience of more than 95,000 people and an estimated four million through broadcasts.
Heike O’Leary, marketing director at Lookers, said: ‘We are very proud to be sponsoring Royal Northern Sinfonia, who do such fantastic work in the community. Whether it’s performing to packed audiences or hosting insightful workshops, they provide an inspirational service to people right across the north.
‘We were happy to provide them with the use of one of our vehicles and we hope that it helps them reach even more people with their music.’
Caroline Newton, head of orchestral operations at RNS, said: ‘We are delighted with our fantastic new van and are very grateful to Lookers for their valuable support.
‘We rely on donations to enable us to bring the very best in classical music to as wide an audience as possible, and the van will certainly ensure we can reach lots of people who might not otherwise have been able to feel the difference live music can make.’
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