Award winners and sponsors attend special orchestra workshop

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra recently hosted a special workshop for members of the Future Faces network.

The winners of the Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards 2024, as well as the award sponsors and members of the Future Faces executive committee, were invited to take part in a conducting workshop with the orchestra.

The aim of the workshop was to showcase the importance of leadership and working together as a team.

Claire Tilt, director of Development at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), said: “Having the winners and sponsors from the Greater BYPY awards come and experience how a conductor and orchestra work together was an exciting opportunity for both the BYPY winners and us here at the CBSO. To enable young business professionals to get up close and personal with our fantastic musicians, while drawing parallels between the intricate workings of an orchestra and the dynamics of effective leadership in business, was truly rewarding. I hope this experience will empower them to apply the lessons learned from the workshop into their own workplaces.”

Jack Lovell-Huckle, assistant conductor at the CBSO, said: “As a conductor, my role is not only to direct the music, but to guide each individual player, helping them to understand their unique contribution to the repertoire being performed. Leading the workshop with young business professionals was an enriching experience, especially enabling some of them to step into the role of conductor themselves.

“I hope that the skills they’ve gained—collaboration, creativity, and the empowerment to bring their best selves forward—will serve them well in their careers, both in their personal growth and team dynamics.’ 

Sophie Poduval-Morrell, manager of Future Faces, said: “The CBSO welcomed the Greater BYPY winners and sponsors of the 2024 awards to this exceptional conducting workshop, which was an incredibly moving, inspiring, and enriching experience. The parallels between conducting and leadership became strikingly clear. Both require trust—when we trust and empower those around us, we create the conditions for true success to flourish.

“Future Faces is deeply grateful for our partnership with the CBSO, an institution that Birmingham should be immensely proud to have on its doorstep.”