2025, 7pm
St.Giles, Cripplegate
Conducted by Jonathan Butcher
Fauré Masques et Berganasques
Butterworth On the Banks of Green Willow
Poulenc Organ Concerto
Mendelssohn Symphony no3 (Scottish)
Welcome to the forthcoming season with Rebecca Miller as our principal conductor. As an amateur orchestra, we are very aware of the need to balance our performances with well known international soloists and new emerging talent. Sophie Kauer (the cellist from TAR) is our soloist in Shostakovich's Cello Concerto no.1, Amy Harman plays the bassoon concerto by Elizabeth Maconchy, and Ben Nabarro plays the wonderful Violin Concerto by Sibelius. We are also doing the Planets and Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances among other exciting pieces. The list of the concerts is HERE. Please support us by coming to the concerts.
Following our highly successful concert in June 2022, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Rebecca Miller starting in the 2023-4 season.
The orchestra plays to a high standard and is a mixture of conservatoire students and excellent amateurs. We normally perform 3 concerts per season in St John’s Smith Square. We have also performed twice in the Cadogan Hall. We meet for 4-5 rehearsals in central London during the three weeks leading up to each concert.
We have worked with top soloists including Boris Giltburg, Alina Ibragimova, Thomas Gould, Lawrence Power, Tim Hugh, Piers Lane, Janice Watson and Benjamin Grosvenor.
There is a waiting list for most of the sections, but we welcome guests and new players even if you may not be able to play in all the concerts. Double basses and Violas are particularly welcome!!
To apply to join our friendly and sociable orchestra, please click on ‘Join us’ above or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Our special 159th anniversary
brochure is now available for £5.
This may be purchased at the concert or
sent by post P & P £5
Please click This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a link to the order form
The Royal Orchestral society has a rich and eventful history, including concerts with Henry Wood, Edward Elgar, Arthur Sullivan, Fritz Kreisler and Pablo Casals. Read more.
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WHY NOT...
Introduce your kids to musical instrument by bringing them to one of our friendly and fun kids concerts.
Our performance of the Britten War Requiem with the London Chorus on 30 November 2014 at Cadogan Hall has been described as triumph. The soloists were Geraldine McGreevy, James Gilchrist and Ashley Riches, and the children's choir were from the Church of St John the Divine, Kennington.
7.00pm
St John's Smith Square
SHOWCASING TWO UKRAINIAN COMPOSERS
Conducted by Rebecca Miller with Ben Goldscheider (horn)
Havrylets Chorale, Glière Horn Concerto, Shostakovich Symphony no.5