The Bradford Progress with Jeremy Deller

News Story

Next May, we will be creating a large-scale commission for and in co-production with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

A wide-frame drone shot of The Cow and Calf Rocks, Ilkley Moor in Yorkshire. The image shows hills, fields as well as the town of Ilkley in the didtance
Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor just outside Bradford Credit: Alarmy 2012

Collaboration is everything to us, and so we're delighted to introduce The Bradford Progress – a new commission, created in partnership between Paraorchestra, Charles Hazlewood, Jeremy Deller and the people of Bradford. It's a celebration of the district's glorious variety of music and the people who make it. 

Across a single day in May, Bradford District will come alive with music created by musicians and singers who call the district home, coalescing into a sonic journey that ends in the centre of the city.

Bradford wears its long history on its sleeve. It has terrifically rich musical contours, from old factory folk music to a multitude of South Asian traditions; from male voice choirs to brass bands – we aim to stitch all of these bright colours into our tapestry – a tapestry borne aloft by our mighty Paraorchestra.

Charles Hazlewood, Artistic Director of Paraorchestra

We are delighted to be in partnership with Bradford City of Culture 2025. On behalf of everyone at Paraorchestra I’d like to express our gratitude to the Bradford 2025 team for their enthusiasm and support for Charles and Jeremy’s artistic vision for the project since day one.

Jonathan Harper, Chief Executive of Paraorchestra

We’ll be revealing more details about this exciting commission over the coming months – sign up to our mailing list below to keep in the loop, and visit the Bradford 2025 website for more information on next year's fantastic City of Culture programme.

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