The York-based National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) and the Instituto Cervantes have signed a new three-year agreement to promote Spanish culture in the UK.

The signing, on Wednesday, May 7, was attended by Dr Delma Tomlin MBE, from the NCEM, Pedro Jesus Eusebio Cuesta, director of Instituto Cervantes Manchester and Leeds, Laura García Alfaya, Consul General of Spain in Manchester, and councillor Claire Douglas, leader of City of York Council.

The NCEM and Instituto Cervantes have agreed to promote the development of joint programmes in subjects related to the learning of early music from the Hispanic repertoire, and to knowledge of Spanish cultural heritage.

They will also promote early Hispanic music through concerts, and collaborate on various activities.

Dr Delma Tomlin said: "Over the last few years, the music of Spain and Spanish musicians has been very much centre stage here at the NCEM, with an array of concerts, tours, and residencies featuring these wonderful Spanish ensembles.

"We are delighted to cement this exciting partnership, which will ensure that we can continue to promote Hispanic music and celebrate the rich cultural landscape of Spain.

"We are looking forward to welcoming the fabulous Cantoria back to the city this summer for what promises to be one of the highlights of the festival."

Pedro Eusebio said: "The collaboration between the Instituto Cervantes in Manchester and the NCEM in York has been a consistently positive endeavour over the years.

"Thanks to this joint effort, some of Spain’s most prestigious and promising early music ensembles have taken part in the NCEM’s programmes.

"Particularly significant has been the support for emerging talent, one of our foremost priorities.

"The signing of this agreement serves to consolidate this initiative, which will undoubtedly continue to bear excellent fruit in the future."

Councillor Claire Douglas said: "I was delighted to be involved in the signing of this agreement and the formalising of an already-established relationship to promote and celebrate Hispanic music and wider culture in our city.

"Hispanic music, through Instituto Cervantes, has made its mark at the NCEM over the past two years, and this collaboration will extend that, providing a valued contribution to the city’s broader international music offer.

"This enhances York’s position as a culturally rich city."

In 2019, Spanish ensemble L’Apothéose won the York International Young Artists Prize, and, in the same year, the vocal quartet Cantoria appeared at the Beverley Early Music Festival.

Cantoria undertook a week-long residency in York in 2022.

In July of this year, Cantoria will return to the city to perform at the York Early Music Festival.

The NCEM and Instituto Cervantes began working together in 2023, when La Galiana, and soprano Raquel Andueza, were invited to the NCEM stage as part of 'Beyond the Spanish Golden Age.'