Wealth management firm’s connection with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra stretch back to the 19th century. Tony McDonough reports

Wealth management firm Investec Wealth & Investment says it is continuing its sponsorship of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, which has just delivered a virtual launch of its new season.

Investec, whose Liverpool office is based at The Plaza, has a connection with the orchestra stretching back to the 19th century when business founder Henry E Rensburg, became a patron.

A group of Liverpool music lovers founded the orchestra back in 1840, early in the reign of Queen Victoria. Investec’s current relationship with ‘The Phil’ goes back more than a decade and is currently its Premier Sponsor.

Vasily Petrenko was appointed principal conductor of the orchestra in September 2006 and in September 2009 became chief conductor. His partnership with the orchestra has attracted world-wide critical acclaim and drawn new audiences, including many young people, to live classical music.

It performs more than 60 concerts each season in its home, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, as well as concerts in venues across the city. Click here to hear Mr Petrenko discuss the repertoire and artists featured in the 2020-2021 season with chief executive Michael Eakin, and artistic planning director Sandra Parr.

Investec is also playing its part in supporting the most vulnerable people in Liverpool during the coronavirus pandemic by supporting Liverpool Food Bank in Clubmoor which regularly supports up to 450 people.

By engaging directly with the supply chain, the firm is meeting the needs of the food bank on a weekly basis for at least 12 weeks, or longer if necessary. In total, Investec is supplying 16 food banks across the UK.