Shrewsbury Orchestral Society
Crowds turned out to watch the magnificent Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra in action at Shrewsbury Castle this Wednesday - in spite of a clash with the England semi-final.
It was a testament to the quality of the musical entertainment on offer that very few in the audience sloped off to catch the match.
Joining the orchestra for the evening of film and proms favourites was the Whitchurch Town Pirate, who stepped in for conductor John Moore to take the baton during 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.
He said he'd so much enjoyed himself conducting the orchestra at the previous night's concert in Whitchurch Market Hall, he wanted to do it again in Shrewsbury.
The Whitchurch Pirate takes the baton from Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra conductor John Moore at Shrewsbury Castle
The evening included an arrangement of John Barry's iconic film music by local composer and arranger Matthew Hall, along with The Thunderbirds theme tune, Superman and Proms singalong favourites Finlandia and Jerusalem.
The Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra family-friendly picnic concert has become a firm annual fixture, in a stunning outdoor setting within the walls of Shrewsbury Castle and tickets this year sold out several weeks in advance.
This year's chosen charity for the fundraising concert in Shrewsbury was Shropshire Music Trust's 'Take it Up' programme, an instrumental tuition project in Shropshire schools established by SMT trustee and music teacher Caroline Nowotarski. The Trust is helping to fill current gaps in music education by funding free music lessons in schools with the greatest need, in partnership with Shropshire Music Service.
Shropshire Music Trust Chair Jane Povey spoke movingly about the need to support instrument learning in schools to help create musicians of the future.
The Whitchurch Town Pirate in action at Whitchurch Market Hall
The Whitchurch Market Hall concert was also a stellar success, with standing room only, in spite of the heat, and a wonderfully supportive audience. All profits there will go to support Whitchurch's Blackberry Fair on Saturday, October 3rd this year.
Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra will return this Autumn on Sunday, November 22nd in the Alington Hall, Shrewsbury (3pm).
Shrewsbury Orchestral Society was founded in 1888, making it one of the oldest amateur orchestras in the country. The Society operates as a registered charity with the purpose of "educating the public in the art and science of music". A Committee of volunteers organises a minimum of three concerts each year of orchestral works usually including a symphony or other substantive work.
Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra is supported by our Music Director, John Moore and Orchestra Leader, Alex Postlethwaite. Concerts are held in various locations in or around Shrewsbury; further details are elsewhere on this website.
Zoë Beyers is the leader of the BBC Philharmonic and has established a reputation as one of the finest and most versatile violinists in the UK - she played Sibelius' violin concerto with the SSO in March 2018 and says of the experience:
"Shrewsbury is very fortunate to have such a vibrant, committed orchestra, taken from the community and playing for the community. John Moore and his musicians are a delight to work with - I have very fond memories of our performance of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto. I have enormous respect for SSO’s dedication and passion for making music!"
Ben Goldscheider was nominated by the Barbican as an ECHO Rising Star and during the 2021/22 season Ben gives recitals at major concert halls including the Concertgebouw, Musikverein, Elbphilharmonie and Köln Philharmonie.
"It was a great pleasure to play the Strauss with Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra. Such a supportive atmosphere and a joy to share the stage with. Thanks and hopefully see you again!" [Photo: Frank Jerke]
Jennifer Pike – renowned for her “dazzling interpretative flair and exemplary technique” (Classic FM), violinist Jennifer Pike has taken the musical world by storm with her unique artistry and compelling insight into music from the Baroque to the present day:
"Loved playing the Elgar Concerto with you in the stunning Shrewsbury Abbey, thank you!" [Photo: Tom Barnes]