About the orchestra

The orchestra has grown rapidly since it was founded in November 2002 by a group of local amateur musicians who wanted to provide an opportunity for local enthusiasts to play together in an ensemble and as a way for young people to gain their first experiences of orchestral playing. The orchestra performed its inaugural concert in 2003, shortly followed by its debut at the Thornbury Arts Festival in May 2004: “An impressive performance from this new orchestra” was how one festival reviewer described the orchestra’s achievement. The ensemble also aims to give composers from the region the chance to have their works performed in public; at its sell-out concert in December 2007 the group played an excerpt from a piece by local composer Trevor Jones.

© Neil Edbrooke

The orchestra now draws players from across South Gloucestershire and beyond and includes musicians of all ages and from all walks of life. The group rehearses regularly on Wednesday evenings at the United Reformed Church in Thornbury and performs two to three concerts a year, often in support of local charities. Conductor Chris Hill has been involved with the orchestra from its early days and thanks to his enthusiastic encouragement the group is tackling ever more ambitious programmes of music that require a large range of instruments.

The orchestra welcomes approaches from anyone who would like to use it for charity fundraising. For contact details, click here.

Our conductor Chris Hill has been conductor of the orchestra since its inception. He began his conducting career at the age of 11 when he directed an orchestra of even younger people at a Saturday morning music club. Both at school and university Chris has conducted orchestras in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Manchester and Bristol. As a cellist he progressed through county and regional orchestras, spending six years in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. He now plays cello in the Stroud Orchestra and also enjoys singing with the Bristol Bach Choir.