Nationwide becomes Principal Sponsor of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) officially announced to the media on 18th January 2008 that Nationwide Building Society will be its Principal Sponsor for 2008.

Nationwide's sponsorship includes support for a wide range of BSO concert events to be performed by the orchestra in 2008 including flagship performances of Les Miserables in Concert, spectacular firework concerts across the South and West and support for the orchestra's performance at the Henley Festival of Music and Arts.

The sponsorship marks a substantial commitment from the building society to the orchestra, which will also see Nationwide receive comprehensive branding on all BSO print materials, advertising and at events.

Nationwide has a major presence as an employer in Bournemouth as well as across the BSO's heartlands of the South and West, which includes Nationwide's head office base of Wiltshire.

Jacky Thorne, BSO Head of Fundraising, commented: "Our new Principal Sponsor has a long and distinguished history of sports and arts sponsorship and we are delighted that the BSO is to benefit from Nationwide Building Society's first support of classical music."

Nationwide's Sponsorship Controller Chris Hull said: "We are thrilled to be on board as the Principal Sponsor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 2008. We look forward to being associated with the orchestra's brand both regionally and nationally and being involved with first class orchestra events."

Nationwide will be credited as Principal Sponsor of the orchestra for the duration of 2008.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1893, has worked with many famous composers, conductors and musicians. Its current Principal Conductor, the American Marin Alsop, will be succeeded by the dynamic Ukrainian Kirill Karabits from the 2008/2009 season.

Each year it performs over 130 concerts in Poole, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Weymouth, Exeter, Bristol and Basingstoke, as well as a huge range of education and community projects throughout the region. The BSO has toured worldwide and is well known through over 300 recordings.

BSO members Andy Cresci – Tuba; Kevin Smith – Trombone; Denis Curlett – Trumpet; Peter Turnbull – Trumpet pose outside the Bournemouth branch of Nationwide.