‘Probably Britain’s most adventurous orchestra’ (The Times) and a Registered Charity, Manchester Camerata has a restless ambition to redefine what an orchestra can do. The only one to carry the city’s name, the orchestra has the spirit of Manchester running through its veins. Camerata pops up in all sorts of places – from concert halls to car parks – and collaborates with artists as diverse as the classical superstar Martha Argerich and the Hacienda DJs. Its Music Director is the great Hungarian musician Gábor Takács-Nagy, hailed for his limitless musical imagination and communicative powers. Listening to the orchestra with Takács-Nagy at the helm is to experience music in high definition. The orchestra connects with people in many different ways, be this through concerts, collaborating with the next generation, or improving the quality of life of someone living with dementia. Its pioneering Camerata in the Community programme is at the heart of its redefining ambitions. Covering three specialist areas – schools, health and wellbeing, and a youth programme – this work is backed by academic research, which shows the real impact of what the orchestra does. The programme is not about learning music; it is about using music to enable people to make a positive change in their own lives. The orchestra’s growing work in the field of dementia has resulted in an ongoing collaboration with The University of Manchester and Lancaster University to explore new areas of research, including the creation of a tool to measure ‘in-the-moment’ embodied experiences for people living with dementia – a new field of study. Principal supporters of Manchester Camerata include Arts Council England, the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, and Manchester City Council. www.manchestercamerata.co.uk