Orchestra News

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It’s been a busy Autumn term at HSO with new collaborations, projects and social events on the agenda. Here’s a little snapshot of what we’ve been up to, and believe me, it’s been a hectic but enjoyable few months.

OCTOBER: Our fabulous QUIZ NIGHT took place at Thistleworth Tennis Club (thank you Thistleworth for the use of your hall & bar!) helped to raise some much needed funds for the orchestra. Our Quiz Master, Hannah, delivered a musical-themed quiz and string section chefs Nicola and Yolande prepared scrumptious home-made Chillis to keep our brain-cells energised. We had a wonderful night and are looking forward to the next social event for players, family & friends.

NOVEMBER: With those dark, cold nights drawing steadily in, our Candlelight Concert at St Mary’s Church, Osterley lit the way for local West London clarinettist Esther Sheridan to delight the audience with a beautiful performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. We were delighted with the support from so many people in the community and our regular supporters. Look out for more from Esther and her music ensemble, The Thorn Trio in future.

DECEMBER: On board the Polar Express, building snowmen, lightsaber conductor’s batons, Santa hats, mulled wine and mince pies….what more could HSO do to kick-start the Christmas Season? The orchestra performed an epic programme with music from Beethoven to Bugs Bunny. Who doesn’t like a classic Star Wars or Magnificent Seven movie tune?! I think the Christmas concert is going to be a permanent fixture moving forward, so stay tuned for news of ‘A Christmas Story: Episode 2’ in 2024!

We were delighted to enter an HSO Music-themed Christmas tree at St Mary’s Church Christmas Tree Festival this year. Nicola and Donata decorated our entry and the ‘topping on the tree’ was our very own MD, The Angel Dorian.

MARCH: Our concert on 16th March attracted a record size audience and was a collaboration with Chiswick Voices and The Chiswick Community Choir under their Director, Zac Moxon. It was an amazing experience performing Fauré’s Requiem alongside a vocal ensemble of 70 people of all ages. We still not sure how we managed to fit everyone on the stage at St Mary’s! We also played Frank’s Symphony in D, a piece that is maybe a little out of fashion in the symphonic repertoire these days, so we were so glad be able to introduce the this wonderful piece to a new audience.  

The date of our summer concert is 22nd June 2024 with a programme of Delius, Dvorak (Symphony no.8) and Elgar Cello Concerto with soloist Daryl Giuliano. 

We would like to take this opportunity to send a huge thanks to St Mary’s Church Osterley and St Paul’s Church Grove Park Road Chiswick for their continued support of HSO and welcoming our orchestra into your churches to perform for your communities. We hope to involve ourselves in more community-based projects over the next few years and it’s always a pleasure to play in your churches.

Special thanks goes to Michel Kallipetis, whose ongoing support is so invaluable to the orchestra and Nicola Garty, our leader, for her inspiration and determination to get the musical best from all of us!

Last but not least, a huge thank you for great music programming, endless enthusiasm and vibrant energy from our conductor Dorian Dimitrov who juggles studying in Germany during the week, teaching in every spare moment and always has time for HSO.