Amateur Orchestras - East Midlands

Orchestra	Conductor Leader	Rehearsal Venue/Times	Contact	Notes
The Bardi Symphony Orchestra	Andrew Constantine Adam Summerhayes	Intensive rehearsals just prior to a concert, Wigston (see web site)
The Boots Orchestra	John Sheppard Maurice Tulley	Tuesday 7pm to 9pm at the Boots Company Head Office in Beeston, Nottingham	George Cooper 01949 842486	Formed in 1951 by Boots players, we welcome enquiries from all local musicians. We meet weekly to play music of all eras and styles in an enjoyable atmosphere. We give around 3 concerts in the Nottingham area each year for local charities. Please see our website for vacancies – we are currently in need of string players generally.
The Charnwood Orchestra	Nic Fallowfield Jon Barwell	Thursday evenings, 7:30 - 9:30 pm, Rawlins Community College, Quorn, Leics.	Judith Rodgers (Orchestra Secretary) 01509 412063	The Charnwood Orchestra is an amateur orchestra based in Quorn. It performs several concerts a year in Leicester and North Leicestershire, with a rich variety of programmes and the regular participation of superb solo artistes from all over the country.
Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra	Currently auditioning Edward Boothroyd	Rehearsals are on term time Tuesdays, 7.30 - 9.30 at Ashgate Croft School, Chesterfield.	Rachel Middleton	The orchestra gives 3 concerts a year, usually in the Winding Wheel, Chesterfield. There are vacancies for new members - especially violas!!
Coalville Light OrchestraNEW	Ted Bottle	Tuesday evenings in term-time 7:15 - 8:45 pm, Newbridge High School, Forest Road, Coalville, Leics	Ted Bottle 01530 834133	Playing light classical music in a relaxed environment just for the pleasure of it. No public performances so its members can enjoy playing without the spotlights, an audience and intensive rehearsal schedules. It is an organisation that does not take itself too seriously - and is inexpensive!
Djanogly Community Orchestra	John Rayfield	Monday Evening in Nottingham	Jo Bucklow 0115 961-3237	At the moment we’re on the hunt for another double bass. Any other players, it’s worth getting in touch, but we do have a waiting list for some instruments. Roughly Grade 6 standard, but no exam necessary.
The Isle of Axholme Orchestra	Andrew Jakob Tony Hobbs	Tuesdays 7.10pm - 9.10pm South Axholme School, Epworth	Andy Jakob	Founded in 2000. 3 concerts a year. No auditions. 45-50 members. Very friendly orchestra playing extensive repertoire - see website. If you want to play orchestral music then this is the orchestra for you
Eric Darlington with the John Cleveland Band	Eric Darlington	Monday 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. at the John Cleveland College, Hinckley, Leicestershire	Hazel Baker	A “Big Band” playing a range of music including popular classical works, Miller medleys and show tunes, we regularly play concerts in local churches and theatres, and also play for dinner dances and balls, including very popular “1940’s nights” at the Heart of the Shires in Northants. New members always welcome.
Leicester Symphony Orchestra	Pavel Kotla Mike Shaw	Usually at Mayflower Church Hall, Ethel Road, Leicester, on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings leading up to a concert	Pat Dobson 0116 2677372	New players of a good standard are invited to join where there is a vacancy. In particular we would be very interested to hear from violin and double bass players. An extensive repertoire of 19th and 20th century symphonic music is performed.
Leicestershire Sinfonia	Matthew Lynch Stephanie Wale	Intensive rehearsals just prior to a concert, Blaby	Matthew Lynch 07966 437 037
Lincoln Symphony Orchestra	Neville Turner Caroline Siriwardena	Canwick Village Hall (on the outskirts of Lincoln) Thursdays at 7.30pm		The orchestra was founded in the 1880s, and currently has around 60 members. We perform 5 concerts a year in the Lincoln area.
Lincolnshire Philharmonia Orchestra	Neil Brizland and Roderick Dunk Rowan Patterson	Wednesdays at RAF Cranwell	Malcolm Goodman 01400 262363	A unique musical partnership between the professional musicians from its home base at RAF Cranwell and instrumentalists from around the region.
The Loughborough Orchestra	Liz Thomas Zosia Cocker	Burleigh Community College, Loughborough on Monday evenings	Julia Green (Secretary) 01509-263759	We are an amateur orchestra of some 40 members who meet weekly to play music in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere. Two or three public concerts, of late eighteenth to early twentieth century music, are given each year.
Louth People’s Orchestra	Alison Griffith	Twice monthly on a Sunday afternoon in Louth	Alison Griffiths	There is also a beginners Orchestra which get together for an hour before the main orchestra.
Northampton Concert Orchestra	David Chambers	Thursday evening at the University of Northampton (park campus) Boiughton Green Road, 7-30 to 9-30pm.	Christine Irons 01604 770487	An amateur orchestra formed over 100 years ago with a repetiore of mainly light music. We welcome musicians of moderate to good musical standard to join this friendly and easy going orchestra.
Northampton Symphony Orchestra	Currently vacant Trevor Dyson	Wednesday evenings (term time) from 7.30-9.45pm at Northampton Music School, Kettering Road, Northampton	Pam Dyson 01604 712717	Established in 1893, the orchestra welcomes amateur and semi-professional players and performs 6 times a year in and around Northampton. New players always welcome - see website for details.
Northamptonshire Orchestral Winds	Andrew Bassey	The main band rehearses from 7:30 until 10:00 on Tuesday evenings in Wellingborough School.	Contact via website	NOW is a friendly, colourful and award-winning symphonic wind orchestra established in October 2005 by its Musical Director, Andrew Bassey. We have three other ensembles supporting and feeding the Main Band - the Intermediate Band, and the Starter Band. NOW is expanding its numbers across all of its ensembles, so please don't hesitate to apply even if you haven't played for a while.
Nottingham Philharmonic OrchestraNEW	Mark Heron (Music Director) Janet Hall	6 rehearsals prior to each concert in the season - Tuesday evenings	Jean Kelly (Administrator) David Leeder (Orchestra Liaison)	The NPO was founded in 1974 originally as the Nottingham Sinfonietta. We play five concerts in each season in and around Nottingham. Many of our players are professional instrument teachers. New members are selected by audition.
Nottingham Symphony Orchestra	Derek Williams Alex Hodgson	Rushcliffe Leisure Centre, West Bridgford, Nottingham, Monday evenings	Philip Hawker	We are a weekly rehearsing amateur orchestra and normally play four concerts each year. See our web site for further information.
Southwell Orchestral Society	John Sheppard Bill Hainsworth	7-30 p.m. Wednesday evening in the W.I. Hall, Queen Street, Southwell, Notts	Hon Secretary John Sheppard 01636 815108 Alan Davis	A wide variety of music is rehearsed. Three or four concerts are performed each year, one of these being Carols for Everyone in Southwell Minster. New players of any standard are always welcome.
Wirksworth Area Community Orchestra	Adam Green Louise Maskill	Full rehearsals every other Thursday with some sectional rehearsals on alternate Thursdays	Denise Boddy 01629 824055	WACO's aim is to provide an opportunity to people of all ages to participate and enjoy themselves within an orchestral ensemble. A wide repertoire of popular orchestral music is played.

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