The Glasshouse announces new artistic partners

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music has today announced three new artistic partners. Violinist Maria Włoszczowska will join singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae and folk group The Unthanks to curate, create and collaborate with the Gateshead venue and Royal Northern Sinfonia for a three-year period.

Włoszczowska’s new role builds on her existing relationship with the Glasshouse as leader of resident orchestra Royal Northern Sinfonia, a position she has held since 2021. As artistic partner she will focus on directing, solo and chamber work alongside Royal Northern Sinfonia principal conductor Dinis Sousa and ‘help take the orchestra into bold new directions’. Her work in her new role is already underway, as she currently directs a series of concerts.

Włoszczowska said: ‘I’m so excited to embark on a new adventure at The Glasshouse as artistic partner. It’s an incredible opportunity for me to work with the orchestra in a different way, developing further the relationships with the musicians and our audience. Chamber music is the greatest love of my life; I’m always happy to involve more of it in everything that I do. It also offers an opportunity to involve the musicians from the orchestra in a more personal, individual way.’

The new cohort of artistic partners join the venue as it marks its 20^th anniversary. Alongside their creative responsibilities, the three partners will work alongside The Glasshouse’s Make Music education team which has so far hosted over 220,000 music lessons for learners in the North East.

Glasshouse creative director Wendy Smith said: ‘Music venues are unique as places for artists to meet their audiences and have that two-way dialogue about what they’re creating. It’s an opportunity for these brilliant artists to deepen their relationships with North East music fans and to create new work made in the region. Over these three years Maria, Corinne and The Unthanks will bring their creativity and experience to live performances, music education, and collaboration with other artists.’