Information for players

Autumn 2026

Sunday 15 November 2026 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Sam Laughton

Humperdinck - Prelude to Hansel and Gretel
Ian Stephens - Pinocchio Suite (narrated version)
Coates - Cinderella
Tchaikovsky - Sleeping Beauty Suite

Our annual family friendly concert features music inspired by the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault and Carlo Collodi. Charlie Ross returns to tell the tale of the puppet who wants to be a real boy in this new adaptation of Ian Stephens’ ballet music to Pinocchio. Children are very welcome, especially if they are dressed as their favourite character!

Humperdinck - 2+pc22/ca2 4231 T 2perc 10'
Stephens - 3333 4331 T 3perc hp 20'
Coates - 2121 2230 T perc hp 15'
Tchaikovsky - 2+pc2+ca22 42+2cnt31 T 3perc hp 20'

Rehearsals:

• Thursday 15 October 7:30-10:00pm: complete run through, Emmanuel Church
• Thursday 22 October May 7:30-10:00pm: strings only, Emmanuel Church
• Thursday 5 November 7:30-10:00pm: tutti, St Edburg's
• Thursday 12 November 7:30-10:00pm: tutti, St Edburg's
• Sunday 15 November 1-3:00pm: rehearsal, then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm

Winter 2027

Sunday 7 February 2027 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Joe Davies

Louise Farrenc - Overture No. 1 in E minor
Fauré - Masques et bergamasques
Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 3 "Pastoral"

Farrenc - 2222 4320 T 7'
Fauré - 2222 2200 T hp 14'
Vaughan Williams - 3/pc2+cor3/bc2 4331 T 2perc celesta hp soprano 35'

Rehearsals:

• Thursday 14 January 7:30-10pm - St. Edburgs
• Thursday 21 January 7:30-10pm: strings only - Emmanuel Church
• Thursday 28 January 7:30pm-10pm: Emmanuel Church
• Thursday 4 February 7:30pm-10pm: St. Edburgs
• Sunday 7 February 1-3pm: rehearsal, then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm

Spring 2027

Sunday 2 May 2027 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Benedict Goodall

Holst - The Planets
Rest of programme to be announced

Holst - 43+ca3+bc3+cb 643+eu1 2T perc 2hp celesta 50'

Rehearsals:

• Thursday 8 April 7:30-10pm: complete run through - St Edburg's
• Thursday 15 April 7:30-10pm: strings only - Emmanuel Church
• Thursday 22 April 7:30-10:00pm: tutti - St Edburg's
• Thursday 29 April 7:30-10pm: tutti - St Edburg's
• Sunday 2 May 1-3pm: rehearsal, then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm

Summer 2027

Sunday 27 June 2027 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Sam Laughton

Programme to be announced

 

Rehearsals:

• Thursday 3 June 7:30-10pm: complete run through, St Edburg's
• Thursday 10 June 7:30-10pm: strings only, St Edburg's Church Hall
• Thursday 17 June 7:30-10pm: tutti, St Edburg's
• Thursday 24 June 7:30-10pm: tutti, St Edburg's
• Sunday 27 June 1-3pm: rehearsal, then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm

Autumn 2027

Sunday 17 October 2027 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Sam Laughton

Programme to be announced

 

Rehearsals:

• Thursday 23 September 7:30-10:00pm: complete run through, Emmanuel Church
• Thursday 30 September 7:30-10:00pm: strings only, Emmanuel Church
• Thursday 7 October 7:30-10:00pm: tutti, St Edburg's
• Thursday 14 October 7:30-10:00pm: tutti, St Edburg's
• Sunday 17 October 1-3:00pm: rehearsal, then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm