In October 2024, Manchester Camerata, Britain’s most pioneering orchestra, embarked on a landmark visit to AlUla with the aim of forging a lasting cultural partnership. The trip was not centered around performance, but rather about listening, connecting, and laying the groundwork for a future rooted in shared creativity, mutual respect, and artistic innovation. With their reputation as a Royal Philharmonic Society Award-winning ensemble, the Camerata brought not only musical excellence but also a vision for deeper engagement through cultural exchange.
The purpose of the visit was to meet with the community and leadership of AlUla and explore possibilities for future collaboration. These conversations focused on the potential for creating original new works that reflect the essence of AlUla, the role of music in public health and wellbeing, and the development of a UK Fellowship program that could offer new pathways for emerging Saudi talent. Central to the visit was a strong emphasis on co-creation, with the Camerata team seeking to understand the cultural fabric of AlUla through direct interaction with local stakeholders and creatives.
The orchestra’s leadership and musicians met with key figures from the Royal Commission for AlUla, the British Council, and the UK Embassy, as well as educators, students, and cultural workers from across the region. Among the key figures they engaged with were leaders from the Royal Commission for AlUla, including Mohammed Alharbi, Kate Hall-Tipping, Nora Aldabal, Fiona Noble, Joseph Mason, and Gheeda Bakkour. They were joined by UK Deputy Ambassador Alice Burt and British Council Country Director Matt Knowles, affirming the institutional support for this emerging collaboration. On their side, the Camerata brought key members including Chief Executive Bob Riley, composer Tim Crooks, flautist Sarah Whewhell, and Principal Second Violinist William Newell. They were also joined by students and teachers from the AlUla Music Hub, as well as public health expert Duncan Selbie.
Throughout the visit, they listened closely to local musicians, guides, storytellers, and cultural custodians. What emerged was a strong sense of pride in AlUla’s living heritage, and the ongoing relevance of tribal identity, oral history, and the surrounding natural landscape, from stars and water to the enduring symbol of the camel. These insights shaped a set of shared values to underpin the collaboration: relatability, exchange, humanity, originality, innovation, and quality. The aim is for every project to reflect these principles, ensuring the work resonates authentically with both local and international audiences.
One of the central ideas that emerged was a new musical commission in four parts, inspired by and co-created with the people of AlUla. This work will be adaptable in scale and location, whether in the desert canyons, the oasis, or the intimate spaces of the Old Town, and will draw on sounds and stories connected to AlUla’s global significance along the historic Incense Route. With input from both Western and Saudi artists, the piece will fuse tradition and innovation into something truly unique and unmistakably AlUla.
The partnership also opens doors for other opportunities, including a UK-based fellowship for emerging Saudi talents, and regional and international performances that highlight AlUla’s cultural richness. Music and health initiatives are also under consideration, aligning with Manchester Camerata’s long-standing work in using music to support wellbeing.
The visit set the stage for future live performances across the Middle East and Europe, recorded work for global audiences, and a deeper artistic exchange that transcends borders. What Manchester Camerata found in AlUla was not only inspiration but a community ready to shape the future of cultural storytelling, together.
