Welcome to the Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra Website!


The Orchestra

We aim to be the best youth orchestra in London, providing an orchestral environment which is challenging, fun, friendly and supportive, in which committed young musicians of all backgrounds can develop their skills and nurture a lifelong love of music.

Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra enjoys a very high reputation for musical excellence, both locally and nationally. Our rehearsal base is in Wimbledon and we perform regularly in the best concert halls in and around London, giving three or four concerts a year. Recent venues include St. John’s, Smith Square, the refurbished Radio Theatre at the BBC, Great Portland Street, and Cadogan Hall in Sloane Square.

There are two orchestras: the main orchestra and a training orchestra for younger players or those working towards the standard of the main orchestra. You need to be Grade 6 and above for the main orchestra and at least Grade 4 for the training orchestra. Some main orchestra players choose to join the training orchestra in order to gain experience on their second instrument. Auditions for potential new players are held at the beginning of each term, and there is an annual re-audition for existing players.

Adrian Brown is our inspirational conductor. He has been with Stoneleigh for 35 years, and his rehearsals are always absorbing and practical, where much ‘technical’ progress is made. Under Adrian’s direction the orchestra has performed over 300 separate works by 125 composers.

Lindsay Ryan is our Associate Conductor, and Dan Shilladay takes the Training Orchestra rehearsals, leads strings sectionals for the Main Orchestra and is our Concert Manager .

The summer tour is an integral part of SYO life. It brings players together as no single event can and firm friendships are established. Not only is it great fun, but it also has the effect of dramatically improving the standard of playing.

Tour venues are carefully chosen, and the schedules are planned to provide a balance between work and play, ensuring that there is also time for sightseeing, shopping and ‘chilling-out’.

Past tours have taken the Orchestra to Venice, Krakow, Copenhagen, Dublin, Edinburgh, St Petersburg, Budapest, Barcelona, and most recently Salzburg, Provence and Tuscany.

Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra is wholly independent. A registered charity (charity no. 280297), it is financed solely by players' membership subscriptions, and income from concert tickets, donations and fund raising. Financial assistance towards the cost of membership is available. No person who is musically eligible will be denied access to membership for financial reasons.
The orchestra is governed by a constitution, and managed by an executive committee of parents (trustees) and friends elected at the Annual General Meeting. The committee also includes the Musical Director, the Associate Conductor, the Orchestra Leaders and elected player representatives.


Contact us

 

Chairman:

 

 Julian Hardwick
07887 442489
chairman@stoneleighyouthorchestra.org.uk

Membership Secretary:

 

 Beverley Smith
020 8878 3578
membership@stoneleighyouthorchestra.org.uk

 

Newsletter - July 2011

Click here to read past issues.

Title photographs by Qiuying Lai