FORTHCOMING CONCERT
Sunday 15th June 2025, 7.00pm
Duke’s Hall
Royal Academy of Music
Conducted by Rebecca Miller
with Amy Harman (bassoon)
Gabriella Lena Frank Dances
Sibelius Violin Concerto (Ben Nabarro)
Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances
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2024/2025 SEASON
Welcome to the this 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 concertino 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.
WAR REQUIEM
Our performance 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.
RONALD CORP
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Ronald Corp. Ron was the music director of the Highgate Choral Society and the London Chorus, with whom we had a long and fruitful relationship over many years. He was also a distinguished composer and conductor, and conducted us in a superb performance of Scheherazade in 2022 and Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast as part of our 150th centeneary celebrations.
He will be very much missed
JOIN US
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 or in the Duke’s Hall, Royal Academy of Music. We have also performed three times 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, Dimitry Sitkovetsky 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 joinroyalorchsoc@gmail.com
For our 150th anniversary celebration in 2021 we produced a brochure detailing the history of the orchestra, which may be viewed by clicking on the picture above
Alternatively a hard copy is available by post for £5 + £5 P & P
Please click HERE for a link to the order form
READ ABOUT OUR SOLOISTS
PROGRAMME REQUESTS
We would like to invite suggestions from all who play in or come to our concerts for any piece you would like us to include in future programmes.
All suggestions will be considered, but will have to depend on the orchestration and the costs of performing.
Please email your suggestions to the_cellist@hotmail.com
HISTORY
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.
KEEP INFORMED
REVIEW OF OUR JUNE 2024 CONCERT
by Bernard Hughes from the Arts DeskSaturday 16th June 2024
SHOWCASING TWO UKRAINIAN COMPOSERS
Conducted by Rebecca Miller with Ben Goldscheider (horn)
Havrylets Chorale – Glière Horn Concerto – Shostakovich Symphony no.5
FEEDBACK FROM OUR APRIL CONCERT
Love the Royal Academy of Music as a venue. Actually there are two venues situated in the academy and this concert was in the Duke’s Hall. An impressive hall with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and oil paintings decorating the walls. The concert itself was brilliant two hours of entertaining classics performed by a live orchestra of some 76 members plus a choir. Simply staggering and beautiful. The venue is staffed by the friendliest of staff and whilst I was tired before going to this concert it left me uplifted and glowing all the way home. Highly recommend this concert and the venue. (from Kevin 5/5)
I have passed the Royal Academy of Music on the Marylebone Road frequently but never gone inside until last Saturday when The Royal Orchestral Society were performing British Masterpieces. I didn’t want to leave. It was a spectacularly engrossing performance in the most opulent yet inviting Duke’s Hall. My knowledge of classical music is limited: I thought Holst was German, for example, not a Cheltenham lad. And I had no idea of the sublime ending of the Planets when the voices of angels rose from the Circle to conclude this practically perfect evening. I’ve also never been so impressed with a conductor: Rebecca Miller is a mobile definition of the pinnacle of the trade. The whole experience was sublime: no praise it too hight. One thing is sure: this will not be my last visit. Huge gratitude to all involved. (from Chris 5/5)
Beautiful, joyful, and insightful. The conductor was amazing and so was the whole orchestra. I was very surprised to read that they are mostly volunteers. I had not been oto the Royal Academy of Music before and enjoyed visiting the building too. We enjoyed the concert and the orchestra so much we are considering becoming members to support them and their work with kids and communities – tho, as a royal orchestra, it should really be sponsored by the royal family. (Marcela 5/5)