Telepresence strikes chord with young musicians

Some of the world’s most talented young musicians are to audition for a place in the Southbank Sinfonia (SbS) – one of Britain’s best known orchestras and the country’s leading orchestral academy.

But instead of performing in person, they will be playing for the judging panel via a high quality audio, ultra high definition video link developed by BT and Cisco. The quality of audio/visual link is so true to life it’s as if the musicians and judges were in the same room.

It’s the first time this unique, immersive “in person” collaboration technology is being used to hold UK regional and international. Talented young players from Glasgow, Madrid, New York and Auckland will be able to audition for the SbS without having to leave their home cities. By using the technology - called Cisco TelePresence – there will be no need for the 140 musicians to travel to London for their 15-minute audition.

“As an organisation revolving around, and driven by, young people, we must reflect their values and aspirations,” said Simon Over, music director of Southbank Sinfonia. “Cutting carbon emissions and becoming a more sustainable group is at the forefront of everything we do, as is a commitment to being as open and egalitarian as possible.

For Royston Hoggarth, chief executive of BT Global Services UK, it’s a real test of the technology in action. “It’s fascinating to see how technology such as Cisco TelePresence can be used to deliver its core benefits of cost savings, efficiency and sustainability outside of a traditional business environment,” he said.

“If it stands up to the test of a professional music audition and interview, the potential for TelePresence to replicate and replace in-person meetings in any situation is effectively unlimited.”