Dr Jutta Toelle (Max Planck Institute for Empircal Aesthetics, Frankfurt) and Professor John Sloboda (Guildhall School of Music & Drama) report on an investigation of audience experience during the “Connect” project, an international creative collaboration involving world premieres of two new works for professional ensemble and audience (composers Christian Mason and Huang Ruo), performed during 2016 in four European cities including London (with the London Sinfonietta).

The research findings will be discussed by a panel including Andrew Burke (Chief Executive, London Sinfonietta) and Christian Mason (Composer). How effective are initiatives such as this in widening and deepening audience engagement with contemporary classical music?