Dear All
I hope you have had a great summer and used it to recharge, play some music and maybe even start listening to our programmes coming up!
Welcome to the new season and it's looking very exciting for both Sinfonia and BSO!
BSO rehearsals start on September 10th at BGI School at 7.30pm!
To our new BSO members starting with us this term, welcome to you! We're looking forward to getting to know you in the coming weeks. If you have any questions: [email protected]
With the 60th anniversary around the corner in September 2026, this is going to be both a season to enjoy and build momentum towards our celebrations next year!
Here’s a quick overview of what we’re playing in our 5 main concerts:
Remember that if you are in Sinfonia, you have your concert in Northampton coming up on Sunday 19th October at 11am! There will also be a rehearsal beforehand. Your Section Leader will already have sen,t you info about that. Please return your sign up forms for the season ASAP. Any problems, please email your Section Leader in the first instance.
Sinfonia also has Choral Society concerts and a Rotary Club Concerto Workshop - date to be confirmed. You should now have all that information from your Section Leader.
Section Leaders’ Follow Up Meeting: (Sinfonia and BSO Leaders and Section Leaders)
Wednesday 3rd Sept
Online 6.30-7.15pm on Zoom
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7044421352?omn=85349977469
Please note that most of this meeting will be in 2 breakout rooms and therefore will not be recorded. There will be notes from the final feedback part of the meeting. Please try to attend, if you can!
Agenda for Section Leaders' Meeting:
Orchestral Managers for Sinfonia and BSO: Jane Seiling and Rachel Wainwright
Follow up from last meeting: decide on actions together in respective orchestras
Feedback on organisational issues for the season
Safeguarding Policy: please read and come with any questions
Link to Safeguarding Policy: https://bedfordsymphony.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BOS-Safeguarding-Policy-April-2025.pdf.pagespeed.ce.vXnEQfsPcG.pdf
Safeguarding:
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility - and it's not just for children under 18, it is there to protect all members of the BOS. Please take a minute or two to read our policy and come back to the Committee, if you have any questions.
Link to Safeguarding Policy: https://bedfordsymphony.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BOS-Safeguarding-Policy-April-2025.pdf.pagespeed.ce.vXnEQfsPcG.pdf
What’s On…:
The Young Composers’ Competition is launching again this week at the start of the school year - if you’re a teacher or a student, take a look and share!
FB link to the post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AgSCmff8i/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Many thanks firstly to Mark Phillips, who is leading this project for us, and for the input of our Bedford Sinfonia conductor, Ian Smith, our panel of judges and Carolyn Sampson, who have kindly agreed to be part of the project.
This is a special opportunity for young composers in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. The information has now gone to all 4 Music Hubs - if you are a music teacher, please help us to spread the word with your colleagues!
On 2 May 2026, Bedford Sinfonia is giving a concert of music written when the composers were still in their teens, The programme will include symphonies by Schubert and Arriaga, and Mozart's Exultate, jubilee with soloist Carolyn Sampson OBE, herself a former Bedfordshire Youth Music student.
Around the concert, Bedfordshire Orchestral Society is planning a number of events to celebrate young people's music-making, the work of their teachers, and the important role that composing plays in the school curriculum.
We are excited to launch a search for three new short compositions by students living or studying in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, the Borough of Luton and the City of Milton Keynes aged between 14 and 19. The chosen pieces will be played by Bedford Sinfonia - and sung by Carolyn Sampson, should the pieces include soprano voice - as part of our Bedford Sinfonia May 2 concert.
Compositions will be welcome in any musical style and any combination of orchestral instruments. We will also welcome fusions and the inclusion of non-orchestral instruments. We're hoping that at least one piece will be chosen from the 14-16 age group, and one from the 16-19 age group.
The pieces will be chosen by a panel including Mark Phillips, Ian
Smith (conductor, Bedford Sinfonia), Paul Whitmarsh (Guildhall School of Music), and Kate Knight and Debbie Saunders (two playing members of Bedford Sinfonia).
Any further questions: [email protected]
For more info:
Committee News:
The AGM is online this year: October 2nd 7-8pm
Save the date!
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7044421352?omn=89391479065
Please note that the Committee Meeting for October will continue online immediately after the AGM on the same Zoom link.
More information about the AGM to follow...
See you in September: BSO starts on 10th September!
Best wishes
Ann Collins
Interim Chair
Bedfordshire Orchestral Society
News from our friends:
Bjorn’s SUPERNOVA concert this Saturday:
Bjorn has very generously shared a 15% discount on tickets for us at BOS with the code: SUMMER15 on both afternoon and evening shows this Saturday 29th August at the Corn Exchange, Bedford. I know a lot of you are intending to go - don't forget to book your tickets very soon!
Book here: https://www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/events/supernova-spectacular/
Message from Bjorn and his team:
We are delighted to invite you to the world premiere of Supernova Spectaculars — an original and groundbreaking film music show blending live music, dazzling 3D holographic visuals, and extraordinary lighting display on Saturday 30th August 2025 at The Bedford Corn Exchange. The show brings together some of the UK's finest musicians such as Mike Lovatt (BBC Big Band Lead trumpet), and creative technologists such as Gerred Blyth (Public Service Broadcasting), all working to create a one-of-a-kind immersive night out for families and live-entertainment fans.
The first rendition of the show is performing music from the space & sci-fi genres, including Star Wars, Minority Report, The Dark Knight, Star Trek, E.T and many more... The music has been arranged by the Supernova Spectaculars team for the London Cinematic Orchestra, which will include incredible special sound effects and extraordinarily talented instrumentalists.
Bedfordshire Youth Opera: is performing all this week with their brilliant production of The Enchanted Pig - at the Polhill Avenue Univeristy of Bedfordshire site
For more info and tickets:
https://www.bedfordshiremusictrust.org.uk/byo-the-enchanted-pig/
Charlie-Lovell Jones is playing in MK…
For those of you who loved hearing Charlie polay in our BSO concert, he's returning to the region to play Beethoven's Violin Concerto!
https://www.stantonburytheatre.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/filgrastim-philharmonia/17641/
Grand Piano needs a home!
St Paul's Church has now decided that it needs to replace our Bluthner grand piano (some pictures attached). It has done sterling service but we have been advised that it will very soon need restoration work which will cost well in excess of a new piano. It has been confirmed as dating back to 1908, i.e. 117 years old. There have recently been some temporary repairs to cracked ivory but that is essentially a holding operation. Given that the piano is used for 36 Lunchtime recitals a year, plus several evening music events, plus the Christmas Tree Festival music events (42 last year!), plus school Carol services we need a piano which can cope with that workload. We have been in touch with a specialist piano supplier in Cambridge who has separately confirmed the assessment we were given of the likely future life of the piano. We have also now identified a new grand piano and secured funding for it which is great news.
However, we feel responsible for finding a new home for the Bluthner piano if we can. It still has a good sound, has been tuned three times a year, and should last for a good few years in a less intense environment. I have spoken to Piano Auctions Bedford but they are not interested in the piano because of its age. It has been suggested that schools, or residential homes, might be interested to rehome it. If you know of someone/some organisation who might be interested, do ask them to contact me.
Alison Phillipson
Churchwarden/Concerts and Recitals Organiser
St. Paul's Church, Bedford
Office: - 01234 340163
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