Here is a running list of orchestras, bands, ensembles, choirs, etc which forum members are already involved with, so that new members can more easily access playing opportunities in their local area.

If anyone wants me to add their orchestra, course, etc to the running list, if you could please post some information on the thread and then I can update the list when I have time. If I can, I will also try and pick up on any other threads which are started.

Thanks to polkadot who spent time originally compiling this list. She has agreed for me to take over the running of this thread.




ORCHESTRAS, BANDS


Scotland

Aberdeenshire
Aberdeen - Inverurie Orchestra, quite amateur - Tori flute
Aberdeen - Grampian Concert Orchestra, grade 6+ - Tori flute
Aberdeen - Grampian Youth Orchestra, grade 7+ - Tori flute
Aberdeen - The Garioch Fiddlers - Tori flute
Aberdeen - Concordia - String Orchestra - Tori flute
Aberdeen - Chamber Orchestra - Tori flute
Aberdeen - Granite City Brass - Tori flute
Aberdeen - Bon Accord Silver Band - Tori flute

Aberdeen University - Tori flute
- AU Symphony Orchestra (By Audition)
- AU Concert Band (link)
- AU Big Band
- AU Jazz Band
- AU Choral Society
- Viol Consort
- Baroque ensemble
- Cantores ad Portam (Recorder ensemble)

South Skye - Skye and Lochalsh Orchestra - gummidge


England

Berkshire
Padworth (between Reading and Newbury) - DA CAPO (Do All Come And Play Orchestra) - dacapo

Cambridgeshire
Cambridge - Choirs
Whittlesey (nr Peterborough) - Whittlesey Wind Ensemble, open to Grade 3+ - dmortimer

Cheshire
Barnton - Mid-Cheshire Amateur Operatic Society
Macclesfield - Macclesfield Oriana Choir
Macclesfield - Macclesfield Music Society
Wilmslow - Victorian Opera Northwest

Co Durham
Darlington - Darlington Orchestra - Trumpet Ben

Derbyshire
Chesterfield - Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra - janexxx
Heanor - Full House Orchestra (web link) (forum link) - Thomas Coxon .TMEABRSM
Long Eaton - Friesland Orchestral Society, Friday 7pm-9pm; no public performances - eastmidspiano
nr Matlock - Wirksworth Area Community Orchestra - Nicia-Clarinet-Flute

Devon
Exeter - Devon SRP - Aeolienne
Exeter - Exeter Recorder Orchestra - Aeolienne
South West Early Music Forum - Aeolienne

Essex
nr Colchester - West Bergholt Concert Band and Training Band - Katy_Clarinet
Rayleigh - Harmonie Concert Band, open to all - fastgirl

Gloucestershire
Gloucester - Concert/wind band - Trumpeter
South West Early Music Forum - Aeolienne

Greater Manchester
Crumpsall - Crumpsall Concert Band - WoodyBCR
Eccles - Lowry Strings - LittleMo
Mossley - Abney Orchestra - sbhoa

Hampshire
Alton - daytime wind band, all abilities welcome - dacapo / pianocelloflute
Andover - Andover Light Orchestra (web link) (forum link) - A.U.K, boneman

Hertfordshire
Hertford - Hertford Symphony Orchestra - fsharpminor

Lancashire
Bolton - Opera 74 (web link) (forum link) - LittleMo
Fleetwood - Pheonix Strings - STRINGMUM
Liverpool (Sefton Park) - Just Midnight - Cheshire Kate
Preston - Preston Opera
Preston - wanted - leader for string ensemble, beginners and intermediate adults - agapanthus

Leicestershire
Charnwood - Charnwood Concert Bands
Hugglescote, nr Coalville - Coalville Light Orchestra - eastmidspiano
Leicester - Second wind
Leicester - Leicester Schools Symphony Orchestra - Scurra
Loughborough - Loughborough Concert Band
Shepshed, nr Loughborough (J23 M1) - Chamber music group, usually Wednesday evenings and weekends; no public performances - eastmidspiano

Lincolnshire
Lincoln - Lincoln Symphony Orchestra - willobie
RAF Cranwell, nr Sleaford - Lincoln Philharmonia Orchestra - willobie

London
Blackheath Conservatoire - Chamber Music - oboe d'amore
Blackheath Conservatoire - Baroque Ensemble - oboe d'amore & Swisscello
Blackheath Conservatoire - Flute Choir (web link) (forum link) - TSax
Blackheath Conservatoire - Jazz Group - TSax
Blackheath - Greenwich Meantime Jazz Orchestra - TSax
Bloomsbury - Mary Ward Centre - onion
Brixton/Stockwell - Lambeth Orchestra - Violin Hero
Euston - The Learning Orchestra - onion
Herne Hill - Southwark Concert Band - Tinselworm
High Barnet - String Octet - Professional coaching provided, G4-8, evenings, twice a month - margaret
Highbury/Islington - Highbury Strings (and woodwind) - onion
Kensington - West London Strings - Jake
Marylebone - The Learning Orchestra - onion
Mile End - East London Late Starters Strings Orchestra - ChrisWalsh
Morden - Wimbledon Community Orchestra, rehearsals on Saturdays 10:30-12:30, no auditions, open to Grade 4+ - Rob K

Northumberland
Alnwick - Alnwick Playhouse Concert Band - mrmusic

Nottinghamshire
Beeston - Boots Orchestra - willobie
Southwell - Southwell Orchestral Society, no auditions, open to all - willobie

Oxfordshire
Banbury - Banbury District Youth Orchestra - Rosemary7391

Somerset
Taunton - Taunton Concert Band - Flute diva

Suffolk
Bury St. Edmunds - Choirs

Surrey
Chiddingfold, nr Godalming - Flute Choir, all abilities - fluteroot
Godalming - Godalming Youth Orchestra (web link) (forum link)
Kingston upon Thames - Kingston U3A Orchestra - Suepea
Kingston upon Thames - Thames Youth Orchestra - Violin Hero
Leatherhead - Leatherhead Orchestra, no auditions, open to all - pianophrase
Woking - Surrey Youth Orchestra - Violin Hero

West Midlands
Harborne - Harborne Orchestra - The Old Lady
Solihull - Solihull Symphony Orchestra - 1stviolin
Warwick - Warwick Community Band, practises once a month, no auditions, open to all levels & wind instruments - balu114

Wiltshire
Salisbury - Salisbury Concert Band - Flute diva

Wirral
Birkenhead - The Wirral Cooperative Orchestra - fsharpminor

Worcestershire
Evesham - Ladies Barbershop Chorus - Leahdon_uk
Fladbury (twixt Evesham/Pershore) - Mens Barbershop Chorus - Leahdon_uk
M5/Junction 6 - Express Yourself Community Choir (link 1) (link 2) - ExpressYourself

Yorkshire (North)
Huby (nr Harrogate) - White Rose Concert Band - louise1712
Killinghall (nr Harrogate) - Adult String Orchestra - louise1712
Northallerton - Adult Learner Wind Group - ChrisH
Scarborough - Scarborough Library Music Group - oldnotes
Selby - Selby Music Centre - saxophile
York - Cobweb Orchestra - phantasmagoriana
York - York Concert Band - DawnF
York - York Light Orchestra - DawnF

Yorkshire (West)
Leeds - Yorkshire Late Starters Strings - celloholic
Sheffield - Steel City Concert Band, no auditions (web link) (forum link) - allegretto


UK LINKS (Orchestras, bands, choirs etc not necessarily affiliated to forum members)

LAMNET (Local Amateur Music Network)

Amateur Orchestras

Amateur Musician

Choirs (British Choirs on the Net)

Choirs (gerontius.net)

Wind Bands

Flute Choirs

Music and the City (London)



MUSIC COURSES
There are many music courses at residential colleges throughout the UK, offering playing/learning opportunities and also courses related to music appreciation.

ARCA (Adult Residential Courses Association)

Benslow Music Trust

Pro Corda

Time to Learn



Blackheath, London - various instrumental courses - oboe d'amore

North of England (Co Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland, Teesside, Tyneside, York) - Cobweb Orchestras, all levels

Suffolk - piano and woodwind courses - www.procorda.com

Is this a case of Deja vu?
I though that louise1712 had already revived this thread.

No, there was a bit of a mix-up - it's all been resolved now. Skylark is very happy for me to continue with this, and Louise has agreed likewise

Car Expert

Fair enough, though I'm a little mystified as to why the opinion of someone who no longer chooses to be part of the forum makes any difference.

Several of the entries I have proper hyperlinks to websites for : I'll get them to you as and when.

Cobwebs covers County Durham, Tyneside, Northumberland and Cumbria in addition to York and Teesside.

Killinghall, nr Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Adult String Orchestra

No minimum ability, parts provided for all abilities.

Starting Friday 6th May 6:45-9:00pm at Killinghall Village Hall, 4GBP per session (until we can recruit more players.......)

Feel free to PM me for more info

A change and an addition:


Leicestershire

Currently (with out of date link)
Shepshed, nr Loughborough (J23 M1) - Chamber music group, usually Wednesday evenings - eastmidspiano

Please change to:
Chamber music group meets at members homes, usually Wednesday evenings and weekends. No public performances. Contact via Coalville Light Orchestra or eastmidspiano


Derbyshire

Long Eaton (Sep-May) Friesland Orchestral Society meets Fri 7-9pm. No public performances. Contact eastmidspiano

Does anyone have anything for south, or west Wales?

Is there anything suitable on the Amateur Orchestras website?

Last Friday meeting is 10th June, then the orchestra will be meeting on Mondays from 27th June. Same time and place though

Loads of good amateur orchestras in the London area

Forest Philharmonic Orchestra www.forestphilharmonic.org.uk
Kensington Symphony Orchestra www.kso.org.uk
Fulham Symphony Orchestra www.fso.org.uk
and many others

(probably on the Amateur Orchestras website)

Most of these are an advanced standard (Grade 8+ with most players being college trained / semi pro)

North Yorkshire - Selby Music Centre. Currently has wind bands, string ensembles, guitar ensembles and choirs. Open to all ages despite being run by the local authority music service. Also open to all levels, from absolute beginners upwards.

An update, if possible, to the "Alton - daytime wind band" (in Hampshire):

The Alton Concert Band rehearse on Wednesday afternoons throughout the year at the in Alton, Hampshire. A small friendly group, with no minimum standard (though probably more suited to those Grade 3 and above, we can adapt parts if needs be) who play for local events as and when we get the opportunity. We started in April 2010, so are still fairly new.
I conduct the band at the moment, so am probably the easiest contact person!

Nottinghamshire
Southwell Orchestral Society is a community orchestra - no auditions and open to all.

The Boots Orchestra is, I think, similar but possibly a higher standard.


Lincolnshire
Lincoln Symphony Orchestra is an amateur orchestra playing to a high standard.
Lincolnshire Philharmonia has vacancies for strings - wind & brass provided by the RAF band.

W

Please add the Amati Orchestra. www.amatiorchestra.co.uk

This is an advanced amateur orchestra with big ambitions! It only formed this year and you need to be at least grade 7 to join.

We meet at the National Musicans Church, opposite the Old Bailey in St Paul's, City of London. 7:30-9:30 on Tuesdays.

They have a sister orchestra called the Arioso Orchestra - same conductor, same rehearsal venue, but the minimum requirement is Grade 6. http://www.ariosoorchestra.co.uk

Hi, Please can you add on the following for Surrey.

Surrey Arts Sinfonia (Adult orchestra - no auditions, all comers, approx grade 6+)

http://www.surreycommunity.info/guildfordsinfonia/

(Sorry it's a bit odd at the moment as the orchestrra has changes name used to be Guildford sinfonia but is now called the surrey arts sinfonia)

Thanks

You will find the minimum level required is grade 5.

This group starts again after a (very) long summer break on Monday 17th October at 6:30pm, same place and price as in the above post. Unfortunately it clashes with my band practice so I won't be able to go

Warwick Community Band.

Practices once a month. All wind instruments and all levels are welcome. No auditions.

http://www.warwickcommunityband.co.uk/

Hi,

Can you please add:

Wimbledon Community Orchestra

Rehearsals are on Saturday mornings 10:30 to 12:30, no audition, approx Grade 4+

Thanks

City Showtunes Orchestra!
Would you like to play in a Showtunes Orchestra?

* Rehearsals on (usually) alternate Mondays 7.00 - 8.30pm
* No entrance auditions - just bring enthusiasm and commitment!
* Central City location - EC4
* Fun and friendly atmosphere
* Showtunes and popular classics

Contact:
Melanie Nicholls
07967 043112
melanienicholls1@hotmail.com
http://cityshowtunesorchestra.webs.com

Hi

Can you add on Steel City Concert Band in Sheffield I've recently joined the band and we need more new players, especially brass!

-----
We are a small, friendly concert band, rehearsing on Tuesday evenings near the centre of Sheffield. We play a wide variety of music for wind band - marches, classical pieces, film themes.

Are you a young musician, recently left school and struggling to find somewhere to play now you've had to leave the school band?

Or are you a lapsed musician, haven't played for years but fancy giving it a go again?

Steel City Concert Band could be just what you're looking for. You don't have to be a virtuoso and there are no auditions. If you have some playing experience, can read music and can spare a Tuesday evening each week for rehearsals (at the Scout Headquarters on Trippet Lane, near the centre of Sheffield), we'll give you a warm welcome.

Sold your instrument when you left school? Or has it been in the cupboard so long it's fallen into disrepair? No problem - we have instruments you can borrow, including a full drum kit, timpani, cornet, euphonium, tuba, trombone, piccolo and glockenspiel.
-----

More info at https://sites.google.com/site/steelcityconcertband/ and http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Steel...ld/348401894383

Please add these for the south west

Taunton concert band

http://www.tauntonconcertband.co.uk/1312.html



and Salisbury concert band (previously Salisbury community band)

http://www.salisburycommunityband.co.uk/


Thanks Flute diva

Hi Car Expert

Please could you include our Orchestra in your lists. The attached website link gives ongoing information but briefly we meet every Wednesday during termtime at the Leatherhead Institute and have a playthrough for friends and family at the end of each term. We are in need of some more violins and there are no auditions.

http://www.leatherheadorchestra.co.uk/

Thank you

HI Car Expert

Can you add Harmonie Concert Band. We are a windband based in Rayleigh, Essex. There are no entry requirements other than an instrument and bags of enthusiam.

Web address: http://www.harmonie.org.uk/

Thanks

Fastgirl