Vocatio:Responsio
Looking to make a difference in the way classical music is consumed, Vocatio:Responsio is a project-based ensemble operating in the University of Oxford directed and founded by Merseyside-based violinist Samuel Oliver-Sherry, currently in the third year of his undergraduate music degree at St Anne’s College. The ensemble operates on intensive rehearsal weekends spread throughout the University of Oxford’s term calendar, culminating in high-quality concerts that challenge the detached stigma of classical music performers in relation to their audiences.
As a performing ensemble, Vocatio:Responsio’s main emphasis is on devising unique and compelling programmes that invite audiences to engage with wider musicological discourse within the familiar context of a performance setting. With its Latin name literally translating to ‘Call:Response’, the aim is to break the staunch barrier between performer and audience, creating an informal space for anyone to join in with musical discussion and immerse themselves as part of the concert experience.
Vocatio:Responsio are ultimately committed to making classical concerts accessible to all, while also encouraging its audiences to think critically about the music they’re listening to, no matter their experience. With cheap concert tickets (£5 for all), the ensemble believes that anyone should be able to enjoy and appreciate classical music, with the ensemble aiming to give that space to everyone in its audience.
Target Audience
As we are currently an early music organisation, our principal demographic is with older concert-goers with a love of classical music. However, one of our key goals in the next few years is to better resonate with a younger audience, and a sponsorship will help us boost our social media presence. As we are a student orchestra we are pleased that this happens through friends of members of our orchestra coming to the concerts, but we would like to expand and not rely on this in the future.
In addition, our geographical demographic rests solely in Oxford – hopefully this tour will widen our horizons to the north of England, but in the next few years we are hoping to grow nationwide in our following.
Key Dates and Timings
Either for one concert only, or for a full year September-August (covering seven concerts).
Specific Opportunity Details
In the 2025-26 season, we will be putting on six concerts across Oxford, as well as one concert in Liverpool. Based on our numbers from last year, these concerts usually attract around 100 people, however with a sponsorship we can increase our advertising to a broader scale.
Our following mainly consists of a newsletter, which currently has 250 subscribers. These people come from our concert following, as well as some players who have worked with us before. Our social media presence is considerably less supported than our email newsletter, though again with a sponsorship we can devote more money into boosting our social media presence.
In particular, Vocatio:Responsio are proud to announce our first multi-concert project, including our first concert outside of Oxfordshire, as we look forward to spending time in Liverpool, the home city of our artistic director. Our concert in Liverpool is completely non-profit, with 100% of the ticket income supporting the church (our director’s own parish) in its efforts to raise enough money to restore the church building from serious damages, particularly to its roof but also some of its interior. This is our main event of the season, and understandably the one that will need most support.
A sponsorship would benefit us in fulfilling our goals to transition from student music-making to a more professional business. Currently, we are not in the financial position to pay our musicians (they work voluntarily, like in the other university societies), and we would like to give them the experience of professional work as well, as well as offering something back for their time, effort and enthusiasm.
We will benefit a sponsor in giving them the space to advertise themselves for a demographic they may not normally wouldn’t reach (the classical music sector), as well as extremely devoted service on our end. We understand the risks that are taken in sponsoring an early-career classical music group, but we promise to use sponsorship money to not only grow ourselves, but give the sponsor more opportunities to grow alongside us.
Features and Benefits
– Company Logo or even short advertisement in concert programmes
– Recognition on website and season brochures
– Social Media recognition at the sponsor’s discretion
– Access to complimentary tickets to concerts
– Other things to be agreed with the sponsor, with extra cost depending on what they are asking for.
In particular, in order to add to the prestige of the title, we are looking for a sponsor to have their name associated with our featured soloist for the year (i.e: The [Name of Sponsor] Featured Soloist). This will be a season-long title with option to renew, and will cost an addition £1,000 on top of the plan you choose.
Other Partners
We do not have any current sponsorships at the moment
Investment
Single Concert Options
Company Logo in one concert programme (of choosing): £260 per concert
Logo + quarter-page advertisement in concert programme (of choosing): £450 per concert
Bronze Season Partner: £650 per season
Company Logo in all concert programmes in season
Company Logo to appear on official V:R website for season duration
Two complimentary tickets to redeem across the season
Silver Season Partner: £1200 per season
Company Logo in all concert programmes in season, with recognition as ‘silver partner’
Short advertisement (inc. links) to appear on official V:R website for season duration
Eight complimentary tickets to redeem across the season
Gold Season Partner: £2500 per season
Quarter-page advertisement in all concert programmes in season
Short advertisement (inc. links) to appear on official V:R website forever, including as archive sponsors.
Recognition in season brochure as a ‘gold partner’ to V:R (company logo only)
Fifteen complimentary tickets to redeem across the season