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About Us
What we do and why we do it!
The English Schools Orchestra and Choir, founded in 1994, exists to provide the opportunity for talented young orchestral musicians and singers, still in full time education, to meet and perform with other similarly talented young people from all over the country.
Our principal activity is the annual Orchestra Course, which takes place over the October half-term. This comprises a one-week residential course during which a programme of music is rehearsed for a concert in a national venue on the final afternoon. Recent venues have included Symphony Hall in Birmingham, and the Royal College of Music in London.
Music for the Annual Concert is always chosen to present a challenge to our musicians - extensive tuition and sectional rehearsal being given during the course by our professional tutors to ensure that such challenge is met with resounding success!
We are also keen to expand our international activities, our most recent Tour being to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - Australia! - during the Summer of 2003.
If you would like to know more about the Orchestra or Choir, please contact our Orchestra Manager, Diane Davies, using the contact information at the top of this page, or go to our online registration form.
President's Message
Sir Robert Balchin DL
It is a great priviledge for me to be President of the English Schools' Orchestra, which continues to provide young people from schools all over the country with the opportunity to play superb music and to enchant their audiences.
The ESO is now in its fourteenth exciting year. Throughout its existence it has been supported by a number of generous donors. Their generosity has enabled us to provide hundreds of young people with the opportunity to play in a national orchestra of high repute at some first class venues in this country and abroad.
I would like to thank the following kind people and companies for their encouragement and generosity:
- Harrison Catering Services Ltd.
- The Stanley Kalms Foundation
- Mr M Baldwin
- CHEAR Charitable Trust
- Fox Memorial Trust
- Gordon Dadds Solicitors
- Haysmacintyre
- The Jacqueline Magee Trust
- Sir Paul Judge
- Saracens Rugby Club
- Zurich Municipal
- The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
- The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers
- The Worshipful Company of Musicians
President,
English Schools Orchestra and Choir