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


If anyone wants me to add their orchestra, course etc to the running list, post some info on the thread and I'll update the list as soon as poss. I'll also try and pick up any individual threads which are started.


ORCHESTRAS, BANDS


Scotland

Aberdeenshire
Aberdeen - Inverurie Orchestra - Tori flute
Aberdeen - Grampian Concert Orchestra - Tori flute
Aberdeen - Grampian Youth Orchestra - 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
- 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 Orchestra - dacapo

Cambridgeshire
Cambridge - Choirs

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
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

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

Greater Manchester
Crumpsall - Crumpsall Concert Band - WoodyBCR
Eccles - Lowry Strings (see also this post) - LittleMo

Hampshire
Andover - opportunity to join orchestra - A.U.K

Lancashire
Bolton - Opera 74 - 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 Band
Hugglescote, nr Coalville - Coalville Light Orchestra - eastmidspiano
Leicester - Second wind
Leicester - Leicester Schools Symphony Orchestra - Scurra
Loughborough - Loughborough Concert Band

London
Blackheath Conservatoire - Chamber Music - oboe d'amore
Blackheath Conservatoire - Baroque Ensemble - oboe d'amore and Swisscello
Blackheath Conservatoire - Jazz Group - TSax
Blackheath - Greenwich Meantime Jazz Orchestra - TSax
Brixton/Stockwell - Lambeth Orchestra - Violin Hero
Kensington - West London Strings - Jake
Mile End - East London Late Starters Strings Orchestra - ChrisWalsh

Oxfordshire
Banbury - Banbury District Youth Orchestra - Rosemary7391

Suffolk
Bury St Edmonds - Choirs

Surrey
Kingston upon Thames - Thames Youth Orchestra - Violin Hero
Woking - Surrey Youth Orchestra - Violin Hero

Tameside
Mossley - Abney Orchestra - sbhoa

West Midlands
Harborne - Harborne Orchestra - The Old Lady (not that she's *very* old )
Solihull - Solihull Symphony Orchestra - 1stviolin

Wirral
Birkenhead - The Wirral Cooperative Orchestra - fsharpminor

Worcestershire
Evesham - Ladies Barbershop Chorus - Leahdon_uk
Fladbury (twixt Evesham/Pershore) - Mens Barbershop Chorus - Leahdon_uk

Yorkshire (North)
Northallerton - Adult Learner Wind Group - ChrisH
Scarborough - Scarborough Library Music Group - oldnotes
York - Cobweb Orchestra - phantasmagoriana
York - York Concert Band - DawnF
York - York Light Orchestra - DawnF

Yorkshire (West)
Leeds - Yorkshire Late Starters Strings - celloholic



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

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



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

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

Nice idea Skylark I tend to find it difficult to find orchestras near me (maybe because there aren't many?) but this should help anyone looking! For the youth round here, BDYO is one that I'm involved in running in Oxfordshire

Colchester - West Bergholt Concert Band (for grades 4+)
Colchester - West Bergholt Training Band (for grades 1-4)
They take wind and brass players!

http://www.wbcb.org.uk/index.asp

No auditions needed! And they do about 6 concerts per year!

The Leicester Wind Band that Skylark's OP referred to is called Second Wind - best contacted through Sheehans music shop in Leicester. I play with two other wind bands, both based in Loughborough -

Loughborough Concert Band, and
Charnwood Concert Bands


I'm sure that either would love to hear from wind, brass or percussion players... (especially if they play trumpet, trombone, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, French Horn or percussion)

Each of them has a website; normal entry standard for the concert bands is around G5, but the Charnwood band also has a children's band, and an intermediate band.

nick

I've amended the link for Second Wind and I've added cellophile's Baroque Strings course. If anyone else has any courses they want to be added to the list in my first post, just let me know!

Does this include youth orchestras? I'd like to recommend the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra - oldest one in the country and still going strong on its 60th anniversary! you have to audition, but it's great fun, and they do tours too.

Hey sounds fun, especially the tours! I've added it in - any orchestra can be included as long as it offers a "playing opportunity" to others, ie not just a "school orchestra" which only students of the school can play in

Both I and daughter 2 play in the North Wales Clarinet Choir.

Rehearsals are every other Sunday, starting back on 31 August, in Menai Bridge, Anglesey 1:30 - 5:00.

We have played 2 concerts since I joined last September, both in churches (both tiny!) in the North of Anglesey, and were due to play in the bandstand at Portmeirion a couple of Sundays ago, but it was cancelled due to a very poor weather forecast.

Cost is £6 per month for adults and £3 per month for under 18s. We need more young people, our lead Bb clarinet is leaving due to going to Chethams for 6th form.

Currently if we have a full turnout we have 16 Bb, 1 alto, 1 bass, 1 contrabass and 1 player who has both alto and bass.

Many also play saxophone so there is a sax choir going on alongside.

Anyone within reach is welcome to come to my Scarborough Library Music Group. Held in the Concert Hall every other Wednesday morning (next one tomorrow, 16th). Currently have pianist (me), lyric tenor, oboeist, recorders, as regular attendees plus occasional others. We enjoy making music together and also rehearse for local amateur concerts for those interested. There is no cost - apart from getting to Scarborough! We would love to have some string players. Please PM me for more information.

To add to this, I have a choir of retired people mostly, who meet each thursday morning in Moelfre at 9.30 am until 11.00. We really need more men and singers do not need anything more than a love of singing. On thursday evenings I direct a recorder group also and we are always on the look out for new members as the younger ones tend to move away to university and are gone forever. We meet at 7.00pm in Talwrn. Both of these are on a break over the summer but will be restarting in September. Please pm for more details. For the youngest members of this forum I hold Hedgehogs Music Club each Saturday morning, also in Talwrn for toddlers aged twelve months old up to seven or eight years of age to have fun learning the elements of music making before formal lessons begin.

we have a small orchestra , the Skye and Lochalsh Orchestra, which meets alternate Saturdays in South Skye, during school terms.
We have a senior orchestra and junior string orchestra. No auditions,and standards of playing and experience vary greatly, ( challenging for the conductor!!)

I'm in a Ladies Barbershop Chorus and we're always on the lookout for new members (we've also got a men's chorus who again would love new members).

The women meet on a Thursday night in Evesham and the men meet on a Wednesday night in Fladbury (between Evesham and Pershore).

For those of you not sure, that's Worcester.

Knowledge of music isn't necessary, as all the songs are provided on CD as well as music.

If anyone is interested, please IM me.

Abney Orchestra meets on Fridays in term time in Mossley, Tameside. No auditions. Training band starting in September. Details on the web site.

The Cobweb Orchestra has several regular groups over the north of England which meet on a regular basis, as well as organising one-off events and concerts. No auditions or minimum standard. More information on the website at http://www.cobweborchestra.org.uk/.

for the Abney Orchestra

The concert I played in with them was great

Crumpsall Concert Band

I am one of those who has taken up playing after a break of many years ( about 25 years) and some players have taken up playing in adulthood.
Regardless of ability and experience, all players are encouraged to enjoy music making and achieve their maximum potential.

Is that Manchester

Yes you are right Skylark Crumpsall is North Manchester.

Leicestershire

The Coalville Light Orchestra plays on Tuesday nights (except Bank Holidays) from 19:15 at Hugglescote Parish Church during the school holidays and in the Music Room at Newbridge High School on Forest Road during term time. Visitors and new players always welcome. We don't give public concerts. See website.

http://uk.geocities.com/coalvillelightorchestra/

I play the piano, others usually tune their instruments to me :-)

North Derbyshire

Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra are on the lookout for new members. Strings always welcome, but there are vacancies for other instruments too.

Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire

Inverurie Orchestra - quite amateur
Grampian Concert Orchestra - grade 6+
Grampian Youth Orchestra - Grade 7+
The Garioch Fiddlers

I've added links to all the latest posts to the running list in my first post.

I've also added to the list some of the UK national web sites - British Choirs, UK Wind Bands, UK Amateur Orchestras and Amateur Musician. If anyone knows any other national web sites of a similar nature, I'll add them in if you let me know the web site address.

Surrey youth orchestra: ages up to 21. Grade 7+ Audition to get a seat. Fridays 6.45-9pm. Westfield Primary School, Woking is the rehearsal venue.

Thames Youth orchestra: Grade 6+ for strings and 7+ plus for brass/woodwind. Mondays 6.15-8.45pm. Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames. Audition to get a seat.

I run an adult learners' orchestra in West Berkshire, between Reading and Newbury, with no minimum standard. It's a particularly good starting point if you are learning an appropriate instrument (see below) and "know" you aren't good enough yet to play in an orchestra. Appropriate music is provided to take account of whatever you can already do.

It offers a progressive introduction to orchestral playing for adults (beginners or returners) who are brave enough to give it a try and ready to learn about orchestral playing as part of a friendly, supportive group. We don't give formal public concerts but do invite "friendly eavesdroppers" to a performance by the orchestra, soloists and chamber music groups at the end of each term.

http://www.mooremusic.org.uk/nclso/index.htm

We meet on Thursday evenings during the school terms 7.30-9.30. Players of the following orchestral and band instruments are welcome: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, other brass band instruments, violin, viola, cello, double bass. I occasionally have to put a limit on numbers of a particular instrument so as to keep a workable musical balance in the group.

The following are not appropriate for this group: percussion, harp, other plucked stringed instruments (e.g. guitar), recorders and fixed-pitch instruments such as accordion.

There's more information on the web site and some links from the "other opportunities" page of the site to various other orchestras, bands and choirs in West Berkshire, North Hampshire and South Oxfordshire as well as more generally useful web sites.

i joined Pheonix strings in Fleetwood in June. It's a bit of a treck but I love being able to play with the rest of the group. They've made me feel very welcome and I can't imagine what else I'd do on a Wednesday evening now.

I've got fond memories of Fleetwood - I used to go to the Folk Festival there and also a client used to be based there so I used to visit quite frequently

Somebody was asking on a different thread about playing opportunities in Devon - do any forumites belong to any groups in that part of the world which could go on the list???

There is an amateur orchestra here on the Wirral, The Wirral Cooperative Orchestra.

Website is www.freewebs.com/wirralco/rehearsals.html

Sorry , I dont know how to make that a 'link'

The York concert band and the York light orchestra are 2 I know of near here.

The YCB does have a website but isn't upto date but basic details remain true..

Don't know a lot about the orchestra as am not involved myself Could find out if you want. PM me with what you need to know and I'll gt back to you.

I'm on the mailing list for a number of adult colleges which offer all sorts of courses including music. The courses can last an evening, a weekend or a week and there is a huge variety on offer. The weekend courses I've been on have been really enjoyable, and are usually held in lovely venues. There are some links below if anyone wants to explore what courses are available in various parts of the UK.

I'm not quite certain about the relationship between ARCA (Adult Residential Colleges Association) and Time to Learn but it looks as if TIme to Learn organise/manage the courses on behalf of ARCA

- map showing location of colleges

- Time to Learn home page (searchable courses)

Exeter

I play in:

Devon SRP http://www.srp.org.uk/devon/index.htm
Exeter Recorder Orchestra http://www.pinwood.net/ero/

(but I would sooo much rather play in a small ensemble! )

I play in Lowry Strings Group which meets term time in Eccles, Manchester. This is for beginner to intermediate string players who have started to learn a string instrument as adults or who have not played since their school days.

Didn't spot this before : I'd just like to thank all of you in the string group for your support on Saturday - you were all fab

And if you live in Salford/Eccles/Trafford/Manchester, and play strings, do consider joining them!

Violinists, viola and double bass players are always welcome. We have members from Rochdale, Bury, Chorley, Bolton and Leigh as well as Eccles/Salford/ Manchester areas. We are a very friendly group. We give 2 concerts a year and also go on an annual residential.



Sorry this should have been added to the previous Lowry Strings thread. I don't know what went wrong

I've amended the links on the first post, LittleMo



I don't normally acknowledge every post which is made here as it would interrupt the flow of the thread, but I normally pick up each entry and amend the list in the first post accordingly. If I inadvertently miss a post, do let me know

Hello Skylark and all

I wounder if anybody interested in the course at blackheath conservatoire in Blackheath (Near Greenwich) in SE London.
http://www.conservatoire.org.uk/diary.php?cat_id=43

It is a course for various instrumentalist.
If you are advanced (G6 +) you can go to Baroque Orchestra & Early music ensemble on Tuesday, and if you are aroung G4-G5 you can join in Chamber Music which i did last term on Friday.
It is only 6 or 8 weeks course in school term. and great oppotunity to meet new people and learn ensemble skill. our tutor is great! unfortunatelly you have to pay it (again it is a course), but FYI.

Hi oboe d'amore - I've added it in to the first page where there's a section on Music Courses

Swemf (South West Early Music Forum), but they mostly do choral events.
http://uk.geocities.com/recorder.player@btinternet.com/swemf

I saw the procorda course for piano and woodwind mentioned on another thread so I've added that to the list in my first post - if anyone else knows of any courses that other members might be interested in, let me know and I'll add it to the list (other than ARCA/Time to Learn courses as there's a link to those sites already).

[/quote]

Hello Skylark and all

I wounder if anybody interested in the course at blackheath conservatoire in Blackheath (Near Greenwich) in SE London.
http://www.conservatoire.org.uk/diary.php?cat_id=43

It is a course for various instrumentalist.
If you are advanced (G6 +) you can go to Baroque Orchestra & Early music ensemble on Tuesday, and if you are aroung G4-G5 you can join in Chamber Music which i did last term on Friday.
It is only 6 or 8 weeks course in school term. and great oppotunity to meet new people and learn ensemble skill. our tutor is great! unfortunatelly you have to pay it (again it is a course), but FYI.
[/quote]

I play in the Baroque group which meets on a Tuesday. I ve only been going a term but I think that the group has been going a couple of years and most of the 8 or 9 members have beeen with it since then. We play a concert once a term and the tutor is a Baroque specialist. I'm really enjoying myself. I never expected to find a speicalist group so close. Lucky me.

As well as the excellent courses/lessons there, you have the concert halls next door which put on some excellent concerts - slightly off topic I know, but worth a plug!

As well as the Baroque / Early music ensembles at Blackheath conservatoire there is also a jazz group. Feel free to PM me for further details - ideally participants are competent on their instrument (prob G5+) and have some knowledge of jazz scales, chords etc.

And at the concert halls as well as the excellent concerts Barry refers to there is Greenwich Meantime Jazz orchestra - a wide range of ages and abilities and relative beginners are welcome.

Also at the concert halls there is a programme of adult workshops covering all kinds of things such as Strictly Come Dancing, Taiko drumming, Drama and others. Details are on the blackheathhalls.com website.

Hello everybody.

Sounds like Swisscello and Tsax are very close to my house!
Yes, blackheath conservatoire's this term starts this week for Baloque orchestra & jazz group.
And Chamber music group (currently I belong to) starts from 6 Feb Friday, it is not too late!
Office said, registeration is still open!
Anyone be interested in, please come over - it is prenty space to ANY instruments!

We probably meet on 20 March in internal concert at conservaitore, Tsax and Swisscello?

there is any oboe in baloque orchestra group? (start at 8:00pm?)

In case it's of interest to anyone in the Docklands area, a new amateur orchestra is looking for members - www.docklandssinfonia.co.uk

This is being heavily promoted around Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets/Isle of Dogs area : they are very ambitious.

With other highly ambitious groups such as the East London Clarinet Choir springing up in this area, East London is becoming quite a hotbed of musical activity!

Fraid I won't be playing in the concert on March 20th as I'm going to Angelsey!!
But I plan to play a solo on the concert on I think the 30th of March. (Part of my strategy to tackle performance nerves see threads elsewhere.) I will try to remember to post the dates of our Baroque concert (not yet decided) but amongst other things we intend to play a Handel Concerto at Handel House as part of the centenary celebrations.

String Players,

If you're in London (or within easy reach), you might like to consider the East London Late Starters Orchestra (ELLSO). We are a teaching orchestra, based in Mile End, East London. We meet for 4 hours each Saturday morning during ordinary school term time.

We are always looking for new members, from absolute beginners (yes, even if you've never picked up an instrument) to more experienced players who would like the experience in playing in an ensemble). We like beginners to start at the beginning of September, so that they get the full benefit of our teaching programme.

To find out more about us, look at our web site (http://www.ellso.org.uk/). You can also see a short documentary film about us on YouTube (the reference is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jltldJXDmb8).

Drop in one Saturday morning to see and hear us (no obligation to buy!), or come along to our next end of term concert on Saturday July 4th at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch.


Chris Walsh

I have just joined an orchestra in Lambeth. Called Lambeth Orchestra. The have a policy of playing major works of minor composers.

May be goood for anyone grade 6+ and living in Brixton/Stockwell areas.

PLease add the Solihull Symphony Orchestra to the list - we are a friendly bunch, always happy to welcome new string/ brass players in particular - performing Pictures at an Exhibition on July 4th. We particularly enjoy having occasional sectional tutoring from CBSO players which has been very beneficial!

Can you please add - Wirksworth Area Community Orchestra to the listing we are always looking for extra (strings esp.) players

Thanks

Nicia

To add to the other orchestras in Aberdeen -
Concordia - String Orchestra
Aberdeen Chamber Orchestra
Granite City Brass - http://granitecitybrass.co.uk/
Bon Accord Silver Band

And of course the University Bands and Orchestras pride themselves on being 'town and gown' so new people are always welcome there - especially trombones and Horns!!!

AU Symphony Orchestra (By Audition)
AU Concert Band
AU Big Band
AU Jazz Band
AU Choral Society
Viol Consort
Baroque ensemble
Cantores ad Portam (Recorder ensemble)