So far in the orchestra's history, New Orpheus Ensemble has relied predominantly on students to put on fairly large orchestral concerts. For 2005/2006 it will strive to bridge the gap between music college and the profession by creating an orchestra for young professionals. It will start out with just 15 players and always perform at venues where professional classical music is not often heard live. Concentrating on early Classical works as well as the great chamber works of the 20th Century, the orchestra aims to provide an eclectic range of repertoire to new audiences in rural and suburban areas. The players will have the chance to work at the highest level while they are still in the early stages of their career and each member will have the opportunity to perform a concerto with the orchestra. The orchestra also plans to offer it services to corporate events in the City with the specific aim of securing regular funding. Education outreach projects will follow once the first few concerts have been successful and the orchestra will attempt to perform abroad within the first 18 months. Our Symphonic projects will continue under the New Orpheus Symphony Orchestra banner, click here for more details...
Among the first members are players who have already played with London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, European Union Chamber Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
History:
New Orpheus Ensemble was formed by conductor Nicholas Burns during his last year as a student at Bristol University in 2003. Having already organised orchestras for Bristol University Music Society and Opera Society it seemed appropriate to create an independent organisation for his work. Initially the orchestra was made up of gifted musicians from University of Bristol but over the Summer of 2003 it moved its base to London and became resident in St. Alfege Church in Greenwich. Between 2003-2005 it performed exclusively in St. Alfege Church, concentrating on larger symphonic works than is currently the case. Players were drawn from the London music colleges, attracted by the high standard and chance to learn repertoire now sadly neglected by the Colleges orchestral programmes. While the orchestra is now relaunching itself as a smaller ensemble, larger projects will still take place in St. Alfege's Church under the new banner of the New Orpheus Symphony Orchestra.
