The Royal Albert Hall: The Mind's Orchestra

14 December

In our continuous pursuit of enhancing the well-being of our residents, we believe in the transformative power of cultural engagement. Partnering with the Royal Albert Hall aligns seamlessly with our commitment to fostering a holistic sense of community.

Read on to hear about what James Ainscough, Royal Albert Hall’s CEO has to say about wellbeing.

Research indicates a positive link between cultural engagement and mental health. How do cultural institutions like the Royal Albert Hall contribute to overall wellbeing?

"I think it’s really interesting to delve into how the brain responds to music. In a noteworthy study, people were exposed to short excerpts of music, ranging from upbeat genres like rock and pop to classical masterpieces.

When scientists looked at how their brains responded in a brain scan, they found that rock and upbeat genres induced a physiological reaction, they wanted to get up and dance!. The release of endorphins and serotonin during such musical experiences contributes to a sense of euphoria.

Now, classical music tells a different story; when participants listened, it illuminated the regions associated with deep thought and empathy. They weren’t just hearing the music; they were feeling it!

It went even further to show that while listening, they became more self-aware of themselves and others, making them more empathetic to those around them. So not only is listening to music a feel-good opportunity, it can also bring people together! This connection between music and emotion shows us how they can contribute towards a sense of community, which as we know is a really important factor when it comes to wellbeing.

What’s even more interesting is that the part of the brain that processes music is in the region dedicated to memory, so we are a lot more interlinked with it than we might think.

It’s really interesting to see how music impacts people who are living with Alzheimer's disease, for example. While verbal communication may falter, a childhood cookie jingle can ignite memories so that they find themselves humming along. It’s really a powerful connection. Music becomes a timeless companion, leaving an indelible mark on our lives.

Now, let's not forget the power of actively making music. Over three million people across the country currently participate in choirs or bands. Not only are they are experiencing the benefits of the music itself, but they are forming social bonds as well as learning important collaboration skills. We are social creatures biologically and so both of these things contribute significantly to overall wellbeing."

How does exposure to diverse cultural experiences contribute to overall wellbeing? And what steps does the Royal Albert Hall take to ensure a broad spectrum of cultural offerings?

"Diverse cultural experiences are integral to our mission at the Royal Albert Hall. We're currently on a journey to diversify the artists playing on our stage. We are working towards creating a space that resonates with a broader audience, or as we put it, a “Hall For All”.

We hope that the Royal Albert Hall will be a national home where everyone in the UK finds at least one event in our annual program that deeply resonates with their tastes.

We've recently hosted a range of artists, from rappers and soul singers to R&B performers like Loyle Carner to Little Dragon. Each artist brings a unique story, contributing to the rich tapestry of the Royal Albert Hall. While we honour our heritage with events like the BBC Proms, we're committed to embracing change and the evolving tastes of our diverse audience.

That being said, our approach to diversity isn’t just with our artists but also ensuring that our team reflects this same theme. A diverse team contributes to inclusive decision-making, which helps us understand and connect with artists from various backgrounds. It’s really important to make sure all voices are heard!

It’s also important to note that diversity isn’t just about culture, it’s also about actively supporting emerging talents. For example, The Ezra Collective first appeared on our stage during a school performance as young teenagers in 2012. Then we had them back in our Elgar Room, which is a 200 seats auditorium, in 2017, then they came back to perform on the main stage in 2023! They have grown with us and that’s really nice to see.

Our commitment extends to supporting artists from all backgrounds, helping them build their careers and ensuring that our stage remains a place where voices from all walks of life can be heard.

We're on a continuous journey to broaden our reach, ensuring that the Royal Albert Hall really is a “Hall For All”."