Skipton Camerata - <>

Skipton's resident professional orchestra

Skipton Camerata is a professional chamber orchestra based in Skipton, North Yorkshire which has established a reputation for innovative and engaging professional performances.
The Orchestra is sponsored by Skipton Building Society.

Skipton Camerata was formed in 2004 by its Artistic Director, Ben Crick, over a pint in his local pub in Skipton. What was once a dream has become a reality for Crick through his innovative and creative business mind. True to its beginnings, the Camerata's first public performance was of the Mozart opera "Bastien and Bastienne" in Ben's local pub, the Narrowboat. This venture made national press and prompted Ben to lead his orchestra on the road to presenting classical music in unusual venues such as pubs, shopping centres and cattle markets to name but a few. The Orchestra has since gained a reputation for innovative and vibrant music making and won several awards for excellence in performance and audience development.

In addition to inspiring new audiences to enjoy classical music through innovative and alternative venues, Skipton Camerata are dedicated to bringing communities in Yorkshire together through music. The orchestra has a strong relationship with Skipton Girls High School, where it also holds residency, and regularly offers workshops, training schemes and work experience to it's pupils. In 2008, the Camerata brought 80 pupils from primary schools across the region together to perform a new composition by local composer Tom Lydon called "The Night Before Christmas" which was also recorded for CD release. Ben Crick and the orchestra also work closely with North Yorkshire Youth Music Action Zone, last year enjoying a performance of Mozart's "Magic Flute" with various groups from Yorkshire.

Skipton Camerata also enjoy joining forces with various musical organisations across Yorkshire and regularly perform with Cantores Olicanae in Ilkley, the Sheffield Chorale, the Bradford Festival Chorus and Keighley Vocal Union. The orchestra has become a regular feature at the Grassington Festival and is currently the orchestra of Lakeland Opera.

The orchestra's diversity is made possible due to Skipton Building Society’s generous financial and in-kind support which along with a close relationship to Skipton's church and civic authorities cements the orchestra's valued position within the local community.