Latest News
We're delighted to be back to playing again after a long gap as a result of covid restrictions etc. A very successful first visit to the new Cofton Village Hall with a concert for Mothers Day on 19th March 2023 was very well attended and we were delighted to be joined for the concert by Keith Woolford of Arch-media who took some fabulous photos of the concert and the orchestra. Do have a look at the gallery to see us enjoying a lovely afternoon concert.
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We were warmly welcomed to All Saints Church, Coalbrookdale in June 2023 for a concert of Summer Concert Classics with soloist David Coulson, bass baritone, performing songs by Flanders and Swann amongst others.
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Our 2024 concerts featured a return to Cofton Village Hall for a New Year concert on Saturday, 20th January @ 4pm. A full house welcomed a concert of New Year Classics for the whole family.
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We were delighted to play a very well-attended concert at The Palace Theatre, Redditch in June 2024 to mark both the 75th anniversary of the Redditch Orchestra and the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy with some themed music of the period. We welcomed Birmingham-based pianist Tanya Avchinnikova, who played Richard Addinsell's Warsaw Concerto for piano and orchestra. Redditch soprano, Katie Leaver, joined us to sing some well-loved songs from both World Wars.
Graham Longfils, a former student of Redditch High School and, later, a Redditch school music teacher, conducted our 75th anniversary concert. Graham continues to lead us and to make arrangements of lots of music for our particular ensemble of musicians.
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Redditch Orchestra members continue to meet weekly, during term times, to enjoy playing music from all sorts of backgrounds - classical favourites, popular music, songs from the shows, original arrangements and compositions and much more besides. We enjoy our music-making. The orchestra currently comprises string players: violins, violas, celli, and woodwind players: (no bassoon at the moment ....). We would especially like to have a full set of woodwind, which would open up more repertoire for us to enjoy.
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Proms Concert 2017
We held an enjoyable Proms Themed Concert at the Artrix Theatre on 8th July with talented Conductor, Jonathan Maynard. The fun filled programme featured:
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Sullivan - Overture to the Pirates of Penzance.
Mozart - Basoon Concerto with fantastic soloist Rebecca Eldridge.
Operatic and Vocal Solos with the talented Judith Le Breuilly.
Henry Wood - Sea Songs and 'Rule Britannia'.
Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance.
Parry - Jerusalem.
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Thanks to all who attended!
Photo Credit: Ruth Bourne
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In the Press!
(please click on newspaper clipping to enlarge)
Alongside Vale Harmony Barbershop Chorus and Vale Connection a cappella Chorus, our American themed concert at Evesham Arts Centre on Saturday, July 18th 2015 raised more than £1,200, to be split between St Richard’s Hospice, Worcester-based Leukaemia Care and the Evesham Abbey Bell Tower Appeal.
The concert, which was compered by BBC Midlands Today presenter Michael Collie, followed a previous performance on Saturday, July 4th 2015 – the day America celebrates its independence – at the Artrix Theatre in Bromsgrove.
Chief executive of St Richard's Hospice Mark Jackson said: "This is a fantastic effort, really brilliant. Thank you very much."
Read the full story here.
Letter from local MP!
We received a thrilling letter from local MP, Nigel Huddleston, who attended our 'American Themed' concert at Evesham Arts Centre, 18th July 2015.
See letter below!
(Click image to enlarge)
http://www.nigelhuddleston.com/