|
The Symphony Orchestra comprises professional and amateur musicians
of a high standard from throughout Hertfordshire and beyond. Its
members include professionally trained musicians, teachers and music
college students. The orchestra is developing into one of the UK's
leading non-professional ensembles.
We present
a full season of large-scale concerts in St Albans and the surrounding
region. These include major symphonic repertoire, concertos with leading
soloists, an annual New Year's Day concert in St Albans Abbey and
chamber orchestra programmes. Please see our
Press Reviews.
Specialist coaching is provided by members of the
City of London Sinfonia, with which
the Orchestra is associated. This is currently funded by a
two-year grant from the
Arts
Council, Eastern Orchestral Board
and St Albans City Council.
In September 2007, thanks to generous financial
support from the Arts Council, the Eastern Orchestral Board and St
Albans Council St Albans Symphony Orchestra is holding a
Composer Day, when
composers not currently under professional representation can hear their
work performed by a talented combination of our own amateur players and
professional musicians from the City of London Sinfonia.
Roxanna
Panufnik, who will be leading the New Music Day, is one of the most
successful contemporary composers of accessible, classical music. We are
very fortunate that she will making her advice and experience available
to those whose scores are selected for inclusion.
On 6 November 2003, the Orchestra gave its
first concert in London, playing the Elgar 'Cello Concerto and Sibelius'
Symphony No.5 at St. John's Smith Square.
The Orchestra was founded in 1932 as the St Albans Orchestral
Society. It has performed continuously ever since, including throughout
the Second World War when many orchestras ceased working. Its former
conductors are Robert Lindsay,
Geoffrey Barker
and
Andrew Parnell
(1983 - 2001), who
all made
an outstanding contribution to its development.
The orchestra is affiliated to, and is supported by,
Making Music.
Click here
to explore the history of the orchestra
and view the gallery of archived pictures. |
