SUSSEX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

TwENTY YEARS Of MAkiNg MUSiC iN SUSSEX 1993-2013

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Up at Devil’s Dyke looking out across the Weald

1993-2013We’re very proud to announce that the Sussex Symphony Orchestra will be 20 years old this year.

To celebrate our birthday we’ve been taking our musicians out of the rehearsal room and persuading them to say “Tchaikovsky” in some of the most iconic locations in Sussex. In our 2013 yearbook you’ll meet the SSO’s musicians in some of our county’s most beautiful landscapes, historic castles, famous landmarks... and not forgetting Brighton & Hove Albion’s new stadium.

The SSO has been performing live classical music to Sussex audiences since 1993. We’ve played some of the most exhilarating, beautiful music in the classical repertoire – all performed by talented Sussex musicians who do it for love, not the money. We’re run entirely by volunteers who give up their time to make our orchestra exceptional.

Musicians rarely need an excuse for a party but this is a very special year for us. Come along to one of our concerts and help us celebrate.

TwENTY YEARS Of MAkiNg MUSiC iN SUSSEX

Mark at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion

it all started with Mark...There aren’t many people who wake up one day and think, “Hey, I know, I’ll start a full-size symphony orchestra.” Even fewer actually manage to do it. But 20 years ago Mark Andrew James gathered together some enthusiastic musicians and, with passion and sheer courage, turned his idea into the Sussex Symphony Orchestra. Mark conducts the orchestra today with the same passion – but with slightly less hair, as you can see from the picture.

The Sussex Symphony Orchestra’s first concert took place in a packed Hove Town Hall on 28th January 1993. You’ll recognise some of us from that concert, next to talented musicians some of whom weren’t even born when the orchestra started!

Over the last 20 years we’ve played some of the most iconic pieces in the orchestral repertoire, many with local choirs such as the Sussex Chorus and the Brighton Festival

Chorus. We’ve also accompanied fabulous soloists – cellist Guy Johnston (who’d just won Young Musician of the Year), violinist Magnus Johnston, pianist John Lill – and worked with singers including Katherine Jenkins, Aled Jones and recently, the delightful Lesley Garrett.

We’ve performed all over the county in our 20 year history. Last year we even became an internet phenomenon – and, apparently, went viral – when we moved out of Sussex to surprise the departure lounge at Heathrow Airport with a pop-up orchestra.

Back in 1993 the SSO were honoured when the great Sir Charles Mackerras became our president. His death in July 2010 was a huge loss. So last year, when Nigel Kennedy agreed to fill the presidential vacancy, the orchestra performed some ensemble jumping up and down with excitement. Nigel Kennedy, the SSO welcomes you in our 20th birthday year.

“ Exquisite playing infused with a wonderfully judged eloquence and passion brought each piece of music to scintillating life”

Review of SSO concert, The LatestN

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On the pitch at the Amex Community Stadium, home of BHAFC

we’re part of the community...The Sussex Symphony Orchestra has always been proud of its roots. Based in Brighton with all our players living or working in Sussex, the SSO is a genuinely local orchestra. We’re part of the Sussex landscape.

For 20 years the SSO has been playing in venues across the county. This year we’re launching a residency at Holy Trinity Church in Cuckfield. In a series of free lunchtime concerts you’ll hear our musicians in solo recitals and small ensembles.

We’ve always supported local charities and have strong links with the Martlets Hospice in Hove. There are collections at the end of most concerts, with our next fundraising event on January 26th at Bishop Hannington Church in Hove.

Sussex has produced some great composers. Paul Carr has written several pieces for the SSO including a new composition for 2013.

Thanks to Arts Council funding we’ve also commissioned new works from Peter Copley, Paul Lewis and Barry Mills to be performed this year.

We also support education projects around the county. Last year’s Bandstand Project saw our brass section performing with students from Brighton and Hove on Brighton’s iconic bandstand to welcome the Olympic torch. Amazingly, it didn’t rain.

This year we want to get you involved with the orchestra. If you’ve ever looked enviously at our string section and thought, “I want to do that”, here’s your chance. On January 20th, in collaboration with Brighton & Hove City Council, we’ll be running a string workshop at Hove Town Hall. Everyone’s invited, from toddlers to the retired. You can try out an instrument, play along with us, have a go at conducting or just sit back and listen.

“ This orchestra holds a unique, vital and important place in the cultural life of the region.”

Performing Arts department, Brighton & Hove City Council

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There’s lots to look forward to...You are warmly invited to join the SSO in a spectacular series of concerts celebrating our 20th birthday year.

Our anniversary concert takes place at Hove Town Hall on Saturday 9th March. The SSO are proud to welcome world-renowned guitarist Craig Ogden who’ll be playing one of the most popular pieces in the orchestral repertoire, Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranquez.

Throughout the year we’ll be performing popular classical music around Sussex, including our first concert at Arundel Cathedral on Saturday 9th November.

SATURdAY 26TH JANUARY Bishop Hannington Church, Hove A fundraising concert in aid of the Martlets Hospice and the SSO, featuring the strings of the SSO. Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings, a new commission by Peter Copley, Mozart Sinfonia Concertante for Violin & Viola, Kalinnikov Chanson Triste and Britten Simple Symphony.

SATURdAY 16TH fEbRUARY Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield A concert featuring the wind of the SSO. Richard Strauss Serenade in B-flat, Mozart Serenade in B-flat major for 13 wind and Dvorak Serenade.

SATURdAY 9TH MARCH Hove Town Hall Shostakovitch Festive Overture, a new commission by Barry Mills, Rodrigo Concierto de Aranquez with guitar soloist Craig Ogden and Rachmaninov Symphony No 2.

SATURdAY 18TH MAY St Bartholomew’s Church, Brighton Tchaikovsky Gala at the Brighton Fringe Festival. Includes Capriccio Italienne, Rococco Variations with cello soloist Pavlos Carvalho and Symphony No 4.

SATURdAY 14TH SEPTEMbER Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield Rossini Overture to The Silken Ladder, Mozart Concerto for Flute & Harp with soloists Joe Laurent (flute) and Alex Rider (harp), a new commission by Paul Carr and Beethoven Symphony No 6.

SATURdAY 9TH NOvEMbER Arundel Cathedral Mendelssohn Overture Fingal’s Cave, a new commission by Paul Lewis, Vaughan Williams English Folk Song Suite and Dvorak New World Symphony No 9.

SATURdAY 7TH dECEMbER St Bartholomew’s Church, Brighton A family Christmas Concert Hely Hutchinson Carol Symphony, Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite (excerpts), 12 Days of Christmas, Carols for all and much more!

All tickets are available to buy online at ssotickets@talktalk.net or from www.ssomusic.co.uk or from the SSO Box Office on 01273 415384

Listings are correct at time of going to print, please visit www.ssomusic.co.uk for confirmation and for more details including times and ticket prices nearer the day.

The Cuckfield Chamber SeriesA new residency which continues Holy Trinity Church’s strong tradition of music and celebrates a special partnership between the orchestra, the church and the wider community of Mid Sussex.

This series of free lunchtime concerts features some of the orchestra’s leading players who perform professionally and teach in schools throughout Sussex.

fRidAY 22Nd MARCH The Myriad Ensemble The SSO lunchtime recital series is launched by the talented Myriad Ensemble. Enjoy works for wind quintet and sextet including Mozart’s Quintet for piano and wind K452 and Poulenc’s Sextet for winds and piano.

fRidAY 19TH APRil The Herschel Quartet A lunchtime string quartet recital to make the most of the newly transformed acoustics of Holy Trinity Church. The programme will include works by Mozart and Shostakovich.

fRidAY 10TH MAY Mark Andrew James (oboe) Helen Beckingham (bassoon) Jeremy Leung (piano) The SSO’s conductor, principal bassoonist and percussionist play Poulenc’s Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano and sonatas by Saint-Saëns.

fRidAY 5TH JUlY Emily Shapiro (clarinets) This will be a dynamic recital illustrating the range and beauty of the clarinet family. This playful programme of music from the jazzy to the neoclassical includes works by Paul Termos, John Noble, Emily Suzanne Shapiro, David Lang, Dave Douglas and Alexandre Tansman.

fRidAY 18TH OCTObER Siriol Hugh-Jones (cello) Ros Hanson (viola) Leader of the SSO cello section Siriol Hugh-Jones will return for a recital of popular duets for cello and viola including Beethoven’s “Eyeglasses Duo”.

fRidAY 15TH NOvEMbER Con Amore: Naomi Russell (soprano) and Lucy Mawson (piano) Our final lunchtime concert is a beautiful programme of French songs by Fauré, Ravel, Poulenc, Satie and Canteloube. Naomi Russell has performed frequently with the orchestra and this promises to be a fantastic finale to our series.

Find out more at www.ssomusic.co.uk

Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield

You can be a part of our future...bECOME A fRiENdPlease consider becoming a Friend of the most exciting orchestra in the region. Find out more at www.ssomusic.co.uk.

Benefits include:• Advance and discounted ticket purchase for all concerts

• Reserved and preferential seating at all concerts

• Invitations to exclusive Friends only events• Invitations to pre-concert rehearsals• Your name in our concert programmes• Newsletter updates from the orchestra

SPONSORSHiPThe Orchestra offers many great benefits for our corporate sponsors. For more information please contact the orchestra at sussexso@gmail.com.

THE MARTlETS HOSPiCEThe Sussex Symphony Orchestra and the Martlets have worked together on many occasions and we make regular exit collections in aid of our local hospice.

NEw PlAYERSThe SSO is an extremely hard working, dedicated group of people who give up their time to perform to the highest standards at concerts that have been critically acclaimed. So if you are of Grade 8 standard or above, able to deliver a concert performance of this level with just of one intense but fun rehearsal then we’d like to hear from you. Please contact the orchestra at sussexso@gmail.com or call us on 01273 415384 to discuss the possibility of becoming a member.

NON-PlAYiNg OPPORTUNiTiESYou don’t have to be a player to be involved. We have many areas where we need voluntary support, such as front of house, our library, stage management and other administration. We would also be really happy to hear from students interested in gaining arts administration experience. Contact the orchestra at sussexso@gmail.com or call us on 01273 415384 to discuss how you think you could get involved.

wiTH THANkSWe would particularly like to thank Wyndeham Grange Ltd for sponsoring and producing out prestigious 2013 yearbook

SUSSEX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA01273 415384 General enquiries: sussexso@gmail.com Ticket sales: ssotickets@talktalk.net www.ssomusic.co.uk

Registered Charity No. 1041645

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