We are very excited to announce that Paraorchestra will be creating a large-scale commission for and in co-production with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Collaboration is at the centre of everything we do. The Bradford Progress is 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.

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 distance — Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor just outside Bradford Credit: Alarmy 2012

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’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.

The Bradford Progress with Jeremy Deller

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