Site Title: Amateur Orchestras - Scotland

 Note: Clicking the little envelope icon SHOULD bring up your email program with the correct email address filled in automatically. If it doesn't work, I suggest you follow the link to the orchestra site directly for contact information.

Orchestra	Conductor	Leader	Rehearsal Venue/Times	Contact(s)
Aberdeen Strathspey & Reel SocietyNEW	Graham Reid		Cornhill Community Centre/Primary School, off Beechwood Road, Aberdeen. Monday evenings - Juniors 6:30-7:30, Seniors 7:30-9:00	Karen Gill, 01224 676482
	The Society was established in 1928 to practice, perform and preserve traditional Scottish music. Violin and accordion players of all ages are always welcome to join the orchestras. No auditions are necessary. Usually two larger concerts are performed each year. Opportunity to perform at various smaller group concerts throughout the year and also the potential to participate in the fiddlers' rallies of other Societies.
Bathgate Concert Orchestra	Marco Marzella	Angela Smith	St.John's Church Hall Bathgate Friday evenings 7:30	Morag Gent 01506 843 207
	Bathgate Concert Orchestra is a voluntary group of musicians who meet on Friday evenings for rehearsal and performance of show music and light classics for fund-raising, education and entertainment.
The Berwick Concert BandNEW			The Stobo Building, Longridge Towers School, Berwick upon Tweed. Monday evenings 7.30-9.30	Laura Wilkinson
	The band was formed in 1993 and gives regular concerts of an interesting and widely varied repertoire of wind music from its extensive library. New players welcome, especially a euphonium (instrument available) a trombone &/or tuba, and clarinets of a reasonably high standard.
Colinton Amateur Orchestral Society	Hector Scott		St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Westgarth Avenue, Edinburgh. Tuesday evening 7:30	Lynda Grant
	An amateur orchestra that plays a variety of music ranging from baroque to 20th century.
Deeside OrchestraNEW	Glynn Hesketh	Richard Clark	Victory Hall in Aboyne, 7:30 on Tuesday evenings
	he Deeside Orchestra started life in 1984. It is now a group of around 40 enthusiastic amateur musicians. New players always welcome
Dundee Symphony Orchestra	Robert Dick		Mondays at Bell Street Music Centre, Bell Street, Dundee. From 7.30 – 9.45pm	Dr Morag Ward 01382 522744
	The Society was founded in 1893 by a group of enthusiastic amateur performers. The orchestra has a core membership of some thirty, mostly amateur, players. Extra players are brought in when necessary.
Dunedin Wind Band	Sarah Naish		Old St Paul's Church Hall, Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh on Monday nights from 7.30 - 9.30pm.	Sarah Naish 07711 956308
	We currently have approx 22 players, and would welcome anyone who plays woodwind, brass and percussion on any standard from beginner through to advanced. Our present players range in age from 17 - 70, from all walks of life, and all types of musical background - some self taught, others still receiving lessons, and some tutors themselves.
Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra	Alberto Massimo	Alison Galbraith	Morningside United Church, Holy Corner, 15 Chamberlain Road, EDINBURGH. Wednesday 7.30-9.30pm	Jennifer McGregor 0131 449 6153
	All string players welcome, especially cellists
Edinburgh Orchestral Ensemble	Raphaël Mollaret	TBC	Tollcross Community Centre, 117 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9QG Monday 7:00 – 9:00 pm	Raphaël Mollaret
	Founded in 2009, this orchestra is a mixture of students and professionals dedicated to making music to the highest possible standard. The orchestra works on a number of ""projects"" which may involve a full size or smaller-size orchestra (incl. string or wind orchestra), choirs or soloists. Most members will play throughout the year but some may wish to be involved in a limited numbers of ""projects"" during short periods. We are still recruiting and musicians who want to be involved are welcome to contact us.
Edinburgh Philharmonic Orchestra	Robert Dick		St.Michael’s Church, Slateford Road	Robert Dick 0131 332-8747 Corrinna Kearsley 0131-467-1532 or Rebecca Sawyer 0131-229-8230
	A new orchestra which aims to entice big audiences to raise money for charity.
Edinburgh Players Opera Group	Mike Thorne	Philip Taylor	One weekend opera course per year in Portobello Town Hall, Edinburgh, held on the last weekend in September (Fri – Sun).	Philip Taylor 01368 850235
	An annual course in Edinburgh rehearsing and performing a complete opera with full orchestra and professional singers. Having now worked through the entire Ring, Tristan, Parsifal and Die Meistersinger, we’ve returned to the Ring and 2009 will be Die Walküre. Vacancies for strings and harps. Grade 8+ standard. Players from outside Edinburgh very welcome!
Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra	Gerard Doherty	Philip Taylor	The Reid Memorial Church, West Saville Terrace, Edinburgh Wednesdays 8.00-10.15pm	Rob Saunders 0131 447 3871
	New strings always welcome; some openings for brass and percussion
Edinburgh University Chorus	Neil Metcalfe		Tuesday during term time, 7-9pm, St Peters Church Hall, Lutton Place, Edinburgh.	Robert Gray
	EUMS Chorus is a non-auditioning SATB choir. It is conducted byNeil Metcalfe and all are welcome to rehearsals, students and non-students.
Edinburgh University Sinfonia	Nick Fletcher		Saturday in term time in Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Sq, Edinburgh 10.30am - 1.30pm	Anuj Choudhary
	Wind, Brass and Percussion are auditioned during Freshers' Week. It is non-auditioning for strings. A grade 6 or 7 standard is expected but all are welcome so do come and join us.
Edinburgh University Symphony Orchestra	Russell Cowieson		Rehearsal 6.30-9.30 every Monday during term time.	Alex Priestly
	EUMS Symphony Orchestra is a fully-auditioning orchestra. Auditions take place during freshers' week. Standard Grade 8+. Students and non-students welcome.
Edinburgh Wind Orchestra	Theresa Charlton		Bristo Baptist Church, Dean Path, Edinburgh EH4 3DJ Mondays at 7.30pm	Theresa Charlton 07949 589 796
	This is a fun and friendly wind band which does concerts, goes away for residential musical/social weekends and regularly goes abroad. There are no subscriptions and the music is varied and interesting. We are looking for woodwind, brass and percussionists.
Glasgow Amateur Flute EnsembleNEW	Ms Aisling Agnew		Lorne St. Primary School Glasgow G51 1DP, Friday Evenings 7.15 p.m.- 9.15 p.m.	Robert Murray 01294 461187
	New Members always welcome whether complete beginner, graded, or experienced, flautists or percussionists, free tuition and instrument, complete range of flutes Piccolo, Treble G, Concert, Alto G, C Bass & Contrabass and percussion equipment. Music: Classical, film themes, modern and traditional. Friendly atmosphere.
Glasgow Chamber Orchestra	Peter Jones		Tuesdays from 7.30pm-10pm, Cowcaddens Campus of Glasgow Caledonian University.
	The Glasgow Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1956 and is one of the leading amateur orchestras in Scotland, attracting some of the best amateur musicians in the region. With our conductor Peter Cynfryn Jones we give three concerts per year, and we are also keen to accompany choral societies. We have space for strings, horns and trumpets of grade 8 level (entry by audition).
Glasgow Orchestral Society	Marco Romano, Eric Dunlea and Colin McKenzie		Monday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:30pm in the Community Central Hall, 304 Maryhill Road	Donald Gibson (secretary), 0141 942 7754 Meg Munck, 0141 946 6667
	We play a wide range of music from the classical era to the present day, and have also commissioned works from eminent Scottish composers such as John Purser and John Geddes. Vacancies exist in some sections, particularly in the strings.
Glasgow Sinfonia	Gerard Doherty		Mondays, 7.30pm at Woodlands Methodist Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow
	If you live in, or around the Glasgow area and are interested in joining up, please contact us by email. Although we are an amateur orchestra, our standard is quite high, so ideally players should have passed Grade 7 or above.
Glasgow Symphony Orchestra	Tommy Fowler		Tuesdays at 19 30hrs at Notre Dame High School, Observatory Road, Glasgow G12 9LN
	3 Concerts per year. We pride ourselves on being a very friendly outfit and have a wide range of ages and backgrounds. We are currently looking for players especially in the string sections of the orchestra
Glasgow Wind BandNEW	Kevin Price	Gavin Bryce	Monday nights from 7pm until 9pm(ish), Hyndland Church.	Gareth Cole
	The Glasgow Wind Band (originally called The Glasgow Youth Band) was formed in 1972 to provide an opportunity for senior school pupils, students and adult members of the public to participate in a symphonic wind band of the very highest calibre.
YMCA Glasgow Wind Orchestra	Michael Philip		Glasgow city centre, Friday evenings
	For a list of vacancies visit our web site.
Grampian Concert Orchestra	Dr Tim Tricker		St Ninian’s Episcopal Church, King Street, Aberdeen. Thursdays 7:30 to 9:45	07831 223422
	GCO is a friendly and informal community orchestra, which rehearses and performs all year round. We welcome new players Grade 6 or above on any instrument - no auditions.
Helensburgh Orchestral Society	Robert Baxter	Christine Sinclair	Victoria Halls, Helensburgh, on Monday evenings at 7:30	Alice Gee
	Helensburgh Orchestral Society performs a broad programme at two concerts a year, in March and December. We run a chamber music weekend each autumn and occasionally have toured further afield. Membership is open to players of grade 5 or above, with no auditions necessary. At the moment we are particularly looking for lower strings, French horns and a trombone.
Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra	Maurice Powell	William Pickering	St.John's Primary School on Wednesday evenings during term time from 7.30pm until 9.30pm	Libby McIntosh
	Experienced amateur or professional string and Brass players are always welcome; there are currently no vacancies in the woodwind section.
Isle of Man Wind Orchestra	Paul Dunderdale		Every Thursday during school term time	Joanna Drysdale
The Kelvin Ensemble	Guest conductors		Tuesday evenings, Bute Hall, Glasgow	0798 660 9764
	The student-run orchestra of Glasgow University. We’re happy to hear from any students in Glasgow who want to play.
Kintyre Orchestral Society			Saturday afternoons in the Heritage Centre Hall from 3 to 4.30, Campbeltown Kintyre.	Jacqueline Fitzgibbon 01586 830181
	No audition necessary,we are either late starters or returnees and play easy arrangements of music like Singing in the rain, movements from Pictures at an Exhibition and a wealth of extracts from Handel's Water Music.
Lanarkshire Cecilian Orchestra	Tommy Fowler	Dr Peter McCabe	St. Andrew’s Parish Church Hall, Glasgow Rd, Blantyre. Thursdays 7.15pm - 9.15pm, September to May in school term times.	Gail Graham
	New members always welcome, particularly strings (and particularly cellos). Wide range of music types from overtures and symphonies to film themes and show medleys.
Leith Community Concert Band	Frederick Frayling-Kelly		St.Margaret's Episcopal Church, 170, Easter Road, Edinburgh EH7: Thursdays 7.30 -9.45pm.	Director of Music 0131-554-0568
	A concert and marching band with a wide repertoire of music. Entry around Grade 5, but promising players not quite at that level may be taken. No formal auditions. A friendly, busy band with a core of experienced players who are happy to advise and encourage newcomers. There are vacancies in all sections. Recent performances in Germany and Belgium. At home several concerts per year plus participation in the Festival Cavalcade, Norwegian Constitution Day Parade, the Leith Festival Tattoo etc..
Lomond & Clyde Community Orchestra	John Grant		Saturday 10.00-12.00 noon, St Michael's Church Hall, William Street, Helensburgh, Argyll & Bute	Ruth Sinclair
	The orchestra is for all orchestral instruments, all abilities and all ages from primary school to pensioners - all that is needed is one year's playing experience, an instrument, music stand and a willingness to play music and enjoy yourself! We play a wide range of music from classical to modern with public performances at various times throughout the year, especially at Christmas. We're really in need of string players, oboes and bassoons at present - and we'd like additional adult members. We don't hold auditions - everyone is always welcome.
Meadows Chamber Orchestra	Peter Evans	Fiona Coutts		David Rimer (Chairman)
	The MCO has performed regularly and with critical acclaim to audiences in Edinburgh and many parts of Scotland for almost 30 years.
New Edinburgh Orchestra	Tim Paxton	Joanna Michael	Nicolson Square Church, Tuesdays, 7 - 10	Wind players String Players
	The NEO is a friendly orchestra which performs 3 concerts a year which include new works, some commissioned by or written for the orchestra, as well as established classical repertoire.
The Open Orchestra	Andrew Lees	Laurence Egar	Wednesday (7.45pm - 9.45pm), September to June at: Cluny Church Centre, Cluny Drive, Edinburgh
	There are vacancies in the String and Brass sections.
Perth Symphony Orchestra	Allan Young	Lorna McGovern	Wednesday evenings, 7.25-9.45 p.m. During term time, Perth Academy
	We are always happy to welcome new members, especially brass and string players. No audition is necessary but we do ask for commitment to regular attendance at rehearsals and concerts.
Phoenix Wind Band	Bill Phillips	Associate conductor: Euan Fairbairn	Thursdays 7 - 9 pm Broughton St.Mary's Church, Bellvue Crescent, EH3 6NE	Liz Wight 0131-315 3622 or 07712 418 293
	2 - 3 concerts per year. New players of woodwind, brass and percussion welcome.
The Really Terrible Orchestra	Sir Richard Neville-Towle		Wednesdays at St George's Music Rooms, Edinburgh. Generally 8pm	Peter Stevenson, Chairman
	" the Really Terrible orchestra has rapidly become one of the highlights of the Edinburgh Fringe. Why this group of [very] modestly talented musicians should presume to perform in public is beyond anybody "
The Rehearsal Orchestra	Levon Parikian	Edmund Reid	Weekend courses in London; annual week-long course at the Edinburgh Festival	Anne-Marie Norman 020 7820 9994
	Not a regular weekly orchestra, nor strictly amateur, but has for many years rehearsed and played in London as well as around the country
St Andrew Amateur Orchestral Society	John Mortimer		James Gillespie High School - Tuesday evenings, 7:15pm - 9:15pm (mid September through to early May)	Frank Glynn 01383 860265
	The orchestra is always interested to hear from potential new players: strings, wind, brass etc. (although we cannot always guarantee vacancies in all sections).
St James Orchestra, Paisley	Fiona Butcher	Alan Laing	St James Church, Underwood Road, Paisley	Tom Ferguson 01505 816132
	St James Orchestra always extends a warm welcome to new members; there is no formal audition. There are currently vacancies for string players; woodwind and brass players interested in joining the orchestra should contact the secretary as vacancies can arise.
Scottish Borders Community Orchestra	Guest conductors	Lucy Cowan	Various evenings for individual groups – see website for details	SBCO office 01573 228464
	We invite players of grade 5 or above to join us for regular practice groups taken by professional musicians and play in occasional chamber performances and twice yearly orchestral concerts. Concerts are held in the main towns of the Borders under a guest professional conductor, usually with a professional soloist. In addition we perform in schools, care homes and hospitals.
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra	John Mason MBE		In the afternoon prior to each concert plus an annual rehearsal day in February.	Nancy Frame
	The SFO, founded in 1980 is Scotland's foremost traditional music orchestra. It has 120 members, comprising violins, 'cellos, basses, accordions, flutes, percussion and piano. The SFO plays about 6 concerts per year in major concert halls of Scotland and the UK, and occasionally tours overseas. Entry is by audition when vacancies arise.
Scottish Sinfonia	Neil Mantle	Michael Rigg	Concert weekend and three Sunday afternoons beforehand
	The orchestra is a mixture of professional players, instrumental teachers and amateurs, who aim to make music to the highest standard of which they are capable. The orchestra is organised concert by concert, and changes in size according to the programme requirements.
The Skye and Lochalsh Orchestra	Becky Milne	Margaret Cormack	Approx. fortnightly, Aug-Dec/Jan-May. Saturdays 10 – 12.45 (main orchestra) 12.45 – 2pm (training orchestra).	Becky Milne
	Founded in 2000, approximately 60 members divided between the main orchestra and the string training orchestra. We give 2 main concerts a year in December and April/May, the Christmas concert is a fund-raiser for local charities.
Solway Sinfonia	Geoff Keating	John Phillips	4 Sunday afternoon rehearsals for each of 2 main concerts per year.	Nick Riley (Chairman)
	Founded in 1997 and drawing members from round the Solway estuary, we give two concerts a year, one in Dumfries and one elsewhere in the region. Our website, www.solwaysinfonia.org.uk gives full details of our history, concerts, rehearsals etc.
The South Side Community Orchestra	Geoffrey Emerson		Monday afternoons from 1.45 to 3.45 in the South Side Community Centre, 117 Nicholson Street,	Geoffrey Emerson 01 573 420 279
	The SSCO is a friendly group catering for orchestral players of all ages and abilities. It regularly takes the precious gift of music to the more elderly and vulnerable in the city. Strings always welcome. Edinburgh's only afternoon orchestra.
Stirling Orchestra	John McGonigle	Lois Stewart	Wallace High School, Stirling. Thursdays 7:15 - 9:30pm, September to May.
	Keen to recruit any strings and bassoons, trumpets and trombones.
Stockbridge & New Town Community Orchestra	Louise Martin	Donald MacLeod	Thursday evenings at 7.30 at the Stockbridge Parish Church on Saxe-Coburg Street, Edinburgh	Infoline 0792 985-0483
	Friendly for-fun group working to 2 - 3 concerts per year. Grade 3+, no audition. Currently recruiting strings (especially 'cello and viola) and brass.
The Truly Terrible OrchestraNEW	Jon Hall		Tuesday Evening, 7.30 at Fairways, Inverness.	Annie Cole-Hamilton – Chairman 01667 461188
	New members welcome, no auditions, sense of humour essential, good players will be drummed out (if we can find the drum and its sticks at the same time).
The Yetholm Sinfonia	Geoffrey Emerson	Tony Kime	Rehearses on the concert day, concerts mainly given in Kelso's octagonal Old Parish Church	Geoffrey Emerson 01 573 420 279
	An occasional orchestra, but giving eight concerts in 2007, with a subdivision called Border Blowers. Last Orchestra in Scotland!
51 Entries

If you have any information you'd like to appear here about a non-professional orchestra you conduct, play in or know of, let me know: ku.gro.sartsehcroruetama@ffoeg
(You won't be able to cut and paste this address from here directly, you'll need to type it in to your favourite email program)

These pages are created and maintained by Geoff Rousell.

Last updated Friday, 27 Aug 2010 11:12pm BST

Privacy Statement

NEW - entries since 1 Jan 2010

NEW - entries since 1 Jul 2010

Regional Pages

• Scotland
• Northumbria
• Yorkshire & Humberside
• Cumbria
• North West England
• East Midlands
• Heart of England
• East Anglia
• Central Southern England
• London (inside the M25)
• South East England
• West Country
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

= page link

  = email link

Find these pages useful? If you would like to make a donation, consider sending me an item from my Amazon wishlist:


or send me a small donation via Paypal to my contact email address: