The Southern Orchestral Concert Society was started in 1952 by Kathleen Merritt, a well known violinist in the South of England. It was founded to provide orchestral concerts of a high professional standard in country towns in Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex.
These concerts have continued, although now they are based in and around Petersfield as concerts have been set up across other areas. Many soloists have performed with the Society including names such as Jack Rothstein, William Bennett, Leon Goossens, Jack Brymer, and Alfred Deller to name just a few. In recent years, Pascal Roge, Nicholas Daniels, John Wallace, Evelyn Glennie, Michala Petri, Antje Weithaas, Emma Johnson and many others. Ensembles such as the Lindsay Quartet, London Mozart Players, the Amadeus, the Nash Ensemble and the Hanover Band. have also played for the Society.
There are eight concerts a year including one Lecture Recital for students and a Children's Concert for 5-11 year olds. Jonathan Willcocks and the Southern Pro Musica are our resident orchestra for four of the concerts and the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra opens our season. The remaining concerts are chamber music groups or ensembles or soloists.
The season begins in April and ends in January. There is a strong membership and the Society continues to provide the high standard of concert for which it was founded in 1952.
Chairman
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