“I find the experience and process of recording fascinating. You approach it in a very specific way because you’re not performing to an audience, you’re performing to a microphone. It forces you to listen to yourself. Every young singer, if they can get themselves the chance to get in front of a microphone, should do it.”

Andrew Kennedy

Despite the increasing move towards music streaming, the recording of repertoire in a widening number of forms remains a major goal for many of the instrumentalists, singers and ensembles that BBT supports, often providing another important step forwards in the development of their professional careers.

Recordings offer artists the opportunity to add their unique voices to the interpretation of established repertoire, else to bring new discoveries and newly-commissioned work to life on disc for the first time. Repertoire choices offer a tangible demonstration of programming ethos and physical CDs are useful in establishing and building relationships with presenters and promoters, as well as generating income from post-concert sales. BBT enjoys a proud track record of making considered introductions between artists and labels, which can grow into multi-disc, multi-year partnerships and life-long professional relationships with label managers and producers.

BBT has also funded a number of demonstration discs over the years, which have often led to commercial recording contracts, and BBT artists have featured on three BBC Music Magazine Covermount CDs.

To date BBT has invested more than £600,000 in supporting more than 70 artists to record over 100 new albums, capturing repertoire from solo repertoire to concertos, that spans centuries and styles. Additionally, a further 12 artists have recorded demonstration discs to support the development of their careers.