About Didcot Concert Orchestra
Didcot Concert Orchestra is a high-quality full symphony orchestra, performing popular concert classics and unjustly neglected tuneful gems rarely heard in the concert hall at affordable Sunday afternoon concerts every February, May and October at Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot.
With the continuing expansion of Didcot bringing more orchestral musicians and ever-larger potential concert audiences to the area, the orchestra is the first high-quality amateur concert-giving symphony orchestra based in the town.
It aims to bring together the best players, so participation is by invitation or audition, with professional players engaged in leading each string section. Players meet for four rehearsals, usually over a ten-day period, before each concert.
The orchestra gave its inaugural concert at Cornerstone in February 2018 and now gives three performances every year – usually in February, May and October.
The orchestra’s repertoire focuses on concert classics from the late-Romantic era, and a crucial feature is tuneful, unjustly neglected works from this period – at least one such “rare gem” in each concert.
Repertoire suggestions are welcome from players, with the final decision made by the musical director. Concerto and soloist repertoire are played subject to platform space in venue and budget.
The orchestra is a not-for-profit, charitable, unincorporated association underwritten by founders Jackie and Geoff Bushell.
