Considered one of the country’s most distinctive formations in its field, the orchestra continues to hit more milestones, currently celebrating its tenth anniversary with an exhilarating summer season that also marks its return to the BBC Proms. Guillermo Nazara chats with the man behind its creation to learn more about its astounding growth, upcoming projects, and how younger generations of classical musicians are picking up the baton in new and exciting ways.
How does it feel to be celebrating ten years since the creation of the Fantasia Orchestra?
It’s truly amazing. The orchestra was started by myself in 2016. By that time, we were a fresh ensemble. Everyone was still at school, and it was a way of making music with friends. We’ve grown up together. Ten years later, we’re going to be playing our third and fourth BBC Proms. It’s a really rapid growth, and one that I’m very proud of.
How does the group transition from a friends’ ensemble to a full professional commitment?
It was gradually, and it took a few years. For us, COVID acted like a turning point. During the pandemic, I decided to take this mission of turning the Fantasia Orchestra into a professional group, making it a much more serious commitment. We’ve been a professional group for a number of years now, and it’s made of some of the finest young musicians in the country. It’s taken time, as classical music is incredibly expensive to produce. It requires a lot of fundraising and lots of work to make it happen, but it’s absolutely worth it.
How difficult has it been to finance the project?
Extremely difficult. Making the sums work is not easy at all. It’s a constant need to raise money. Fortunately, we have a loyal set of supporters who believe in my mission and back the orchestra. We’re also indebted to several trusted foundations who have donated to us as well. We are very lucky to have them. And as we go forward, it’s crucial to keep nurturing that support.
What’s the current situation regarding the funding of classical music?
The UK is renowned for its orchestral music making. This country is full of extraordinary orchestras, who are simultaneously filled with incredibly talented musicians. However, arts funding is going through a very difficult situation. At Fantasia, we need to work hard to make sure that the funding works. It is working for us at the moment, and there a lots of people who are very excited about what we are doing.
Are new generations of musicians changing the classical music landscape?
Yes! Fantasia is a part of that. We are programming in a multi-genre capacity. For example, last week we performed a concert that combined very serious pieces by Bartok and Shostakovich alongside a few jazz standards. Bringing those two sides of the dialogue attracts a new audiences and makes the music interesting and exploratory. We also did a concert where we put together Indian, Western classical music, and minimalism. It’s very stimulating to cover different cultures and styles, and that’s just an example of what we are doing — offering a new voice in the classical music landscape.
What are the challenges of performing non-classical repertoire with a classical orchestra?
You need to have a lot of sensitivity to make sure you do justice to the repertoire. It’s important to keep a balance. All the musicians onstage are classical musicians, but you need to preserve the soul of the piece. That’s something that I take very seriously, and it’s crucial aspect when arranging the repertoire.
What can you tell us about your return to the BBC Proms?
We are going to do a late-night Prom at 10:15 pm. It will be an assortment of very cool songs, which we are performing alongside Dame Evelyn Glennie on percussion, as well as the BBC Singers. Glennie is an absolute legend and a household name, and we’ve been fortunate enough to work with her last year and she totally set the house on fire. The BBC Singers are a really special choir. They are truly fantastic, and it’s my first time working with them, so I’m really excited to be bringing the Fantasia Orchestra for this performance.
Are there any new upcoming projects you could tell us about?
You will have to wait until our 2026-2027 season announcement, which will be shared very soon. But I can tell you that we have some really exciting projects on the horizon. We will be working with a wonderful, diverse set of artists next season, and we are also developing some very interesting partnerships with promoters and halls. So stay tuned!
Why come see the Fantasia Orchestra?
You will see an orchestral concert like you never have before, with orchestral musicians performing in a very diverse and wide-ranging way. You will see, up close and personally, the creative work of some of the country’s finest soloist and artists. And I hope it will make you think about music in a new and exciting way.
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Production pictures credit to Pablo Strong.
Fantasia Orchestra’s upcoming concerts and further information are available on the following link.