Newbury Symphony Orchestra
The Newbury Symphony Orchestra Rehearsing in St. Nicholas Church, Newbury
The orchestra welcomes classical instrument players and right now looking especially for extra violin players. If you are interested contact us and come along to a rehearsal and try us out. Rehearsals take place in Newbury on Wednesday evenings during school terms.
Date of 2018 AGM Announced
The 2018 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wed 17 Oct at the end of the regular rehearsal, starting at 9:10pm. All members and friends welcome.
About the Orchestra
Newbury Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest non-professional orchestras in England and is now enjoying its 135th season. Our resident professional conductor is Dr Jonathan Williams and our leader Rachael Elliott.
A major objective of NSO is to encourage young and up-and-coming soloists by inviting them to perform concertos. Soloists John Lill and Barry Tuckwell have gone on to achieve international acclaim after performing with the orchestra.
The Newbury Symphony Orchestra is affiliated toMaking Music, which represents and supports amateur performing societies throughout the UK and is grateful for the generous support of the Friends of Newbury Symphony Orchestra.
For more pictures see the following
Orchestra Slideshow (with thanks to Willie Gunn)
Registered charity No.277308
La France Fantastique
Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz is the main work in Newbury Symphony Orchestra’s Concert in St Nicolas Church, Newbury on Saturday 10th March at 7.30pm. This exciting piece is subtitled ‘Episodes in the Life of an Artist’ and it demonstrates its composer’s fascination with orchestral colour, including the ‘March to the Scaffold’ and the ‘Witches Dance’.
The music is revolutionary, demonic and passionate, and it is scored for a large orchestra, including two harps and a battery of percussion.
The concert begins with the atmospheric ‘Vallees des Cloches’ by Ravel, originally a piano piece and arranged by conductor Jonathan Williams. This is followed by Faure’s beautiful suite, Pelleas et Mellisande, which includes the well-known ‘Sicilienne’ for solo flute and orchestra.
David Shead Confirmed as Trumpet Soloist for Autumn Concert
21/8/2017
David studied at the Royal College of Music with John Wallace and Michael Laird. He has combined a freelance playing career with teaching in many prestigious schools in England which include Sherborne School and Wells Cathedral School and conducting Brass Bands and orchestras.
David has played with many of the leading orchestra in the UK and has for many years been principal trumpet with the London Festival Orchestra. He also played with the Wilbraham Brass Soloists which was run by the legendary trumpet player John Wilbraham. As well as orchestra work, David has played in West End shows and many chamber ensembles.
David recently spent two years in Oman as the trumpet coach to the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, the Sultan’s own orchestra. Among his many duties there were performances of various Trumpet Concertos accompanied by the court orchestra.
GWYN PARRY-JONES JOINS AS GUEST CONDUCTOR FOR AUTUMN CONCERT
21/7/2017
This Autumn we will will welcome Gwyn Parry-Jones as guest conductor. Gwyn worked as a professional orchestral and chamber performer before moving into ‘academia’, with posts at the universities of Manchester, Gothenburg and Oxford. He was for some years Director of Music Activities at the University of Reading, leaving in order to concentrate on conducting, lecturing and adjudication. Our Principal Conductor Jonathan Williams is away with English Touring Opera this term and will rejoin us in spring.
Gwyn Parry-Jones
The French themed concert originally planned for Autumn has been postponed to spring, and Gwyn will conduct an all Russian Program featuring Tchaikovsky's "Little Russian" symphony.
-----------------------------------------------------
Newbury Weekly News Reviews
"Made In America"
The review for our "Made in America" concert has now been published in the Newbury Weekly News ...
NSO Joint Schools Summer Concert
On 9 July in collaboration with St Bartholomew School Music Department, NSO put on a well attended concert based on music from the BBC 10 Pieces program which was well received, finishing with Bernstein's Mambo.
Tom Valentine, Trumpet Soloist
Jonny Williams takes a bow
David Goldberg plays Lark Ascending