I have finished my conducting studies a few months ago in St Petersburg. At the moment I am looking to set up an orchestra to play some concerts for charity. Maybe organise some sort of festival as well, although that is in the future.

I am doing a little research among orchestral players of all abilities. What composers do orchestral musicians like or would like to play if invited to play in a concert for charity? The concert would feature a serious and ambitious programme. Would you also be personally interested in taking part?

You are a very unusual conductor if you pay so much attention to what the musicians would like to play! Most of the time they play what they are told to - they do not expect to have a choice in this, and you may be undermining your own authority if you suggest to them that they DO have a choice.

I think you should be concentrating on the pieces that an audience would come and listen to (for a charity concert you want as many people there as possible), and also bear in mind the abilities of your players. If your programme really is "serious and ambitious" you might find that many amateur players will not be able to cope.

Perhaps go for something fun and enjoyable - Film scores are very popular in the youth orchestra I play in!

I agree, conductors do usually dictate! You're a bit far away from me though

I think the comment by sonataform is very valid. However the reason I ask is because if I organize a concert with music that people do not want to play the chances of me putting together an actual orchestra will be very small. That is the reasoning behind the research. In fact I have in my head a good programme for the concert, but I need to know people's preferences. Just out of curiosity. I have been thinking of Shostakovich 10th Symphony as the main piece. Or do a Tchaikovsky only concert.

Not sure as to where you live gusubeda ?

In my limited experience of charity concerts, people tend to play in them because they want to support the charity. I have honestly never known any player to say, "I'm not going to be involved in your concert if we're going to have to play THAT!"

Gusubeda, I think your concern is very genuine and I admire you for devoting such care to it, but I really do not believe you have a problem. It would be interesting to know what programme you have in your head, but that's none of my business - and I don't see anyone having complaining about being asked to play either Tchaikovsky or Shostakovich.

Good luck with your concert. From the amount of care you are obviously putting into planning it, I am sure it will be a wonderful event.

I live now in the London area, although I have studied, as you can see in St Petersburg. for a few years. My wish is to form an orchestra to perform maybe some Shostakovich. But that is for the future. Maybe in 2008.

Dear Sonataform,

Thank you for your very honest reply. I will be planning this with the greatest care as possible. I probably will stick with the Shostakovich, because is music very close to me. My teacher in Russia studied with Shostakovich and learning this work with him was like learning it from the great man himself. I do wish that if you have the opportunity you can also take part on it.

Once again thanks for the support

Gus Ubeda