HALLÉ ORCHESTRA'S NEW INSTRUMENT VEHICLE

Earlier in the year Alloy Bodies Ltd were approached by Manchester's Hallé Orchestra to design and build a body not just to transport their equipment but to reinforce the high profile image of the Hallé.

The bodywork is temperature controlled and insulated to protect the instruments being transported from the elements and also to prevent extensive retuning once the Orchestra arrive at a venue. The latest LED internal lighting with mains hook up was a must along with auxilliary batteries and split charge system. The internal fittings are all stainless steel and the body is finished with minimal external fixings to maintain a clean aesthetic appearance.

The Hallé is Britain’s longest-established orchestra, founded in Manchester by the pianist and conductor Charles Hallé. The Hallé gave its first concert in the city’s Free Trade Hall in 1858, and is now resident at Manchester’s internationally renowned Bridgewater Hall, where it presents around 70 concerts a year as well as giving 50 more around the country and across the world.

As part of Arts Council England’s ‘Sustain’ programme in 2009 the Hallé successfully bid for additional funding to support the purchase of a brand new instrument van. The Hallé Instrument Van is a vital piece of the organisation’s fabric, supporting the orchestra as it tours extensively both at home and abroad. The Hallé performs over 40 concerts a year in towns and cities across the UK including an annual Prom Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The van also takes the orchestra to international performances – in the last l0 years the Hallé has been invited to perform at international venues at least once each season and recent tours have taken the orchestra to Germany, Ireland, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Czech Republic, Belgium and Italy.

The van is a vital asset for the organisation and its replacement will help us increase efficiency, decrease maintenance costs and ensure the safety of our instruments. Concerts Director, Stuart Kempster commented "The knowledge and expertise that Alloy Bodies Ltd have contributed to the creation of our new van will help to ensure its effectiveness for the long term."