Join Us
We are always pleased to hear from potential new members who would like to join our orchestra. We aim for high standards of musicianship, at the same time as having fun and enjoying making music. We have open vacancies for string players, horn players and trombone players. Please contact us at contact@brentso.org.uk if you are interested.
Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings 7:15 – 9:45 (with tea break)
Dates: Approximately 8 rehearsals before each concert, following academic terms. We have fewer rehearsals for our winter and family concerts.
Location: St Martins, Mortimer Road, NW10 5SN
Transport: Close to both Kensal Green tube (Bakerloo & Overground), Kensal Rise (Overground), and No. 18 bus route.
Access: Step free access and a wide door
We expect you to be of approximately Grade 8 standard, although we’ll never ask you for your certificate. Good sight reading skills are very helpful. We need you to commit to regular attendance throughout the year and to practice your parts at home.
Unlike many other orchestras we do not have fixed string seats and our wind players are all co-principals. We rotate violins between 1sts and 2nds every concert, and our wind players often change seats between concert pieces.
Whilst your first term will be free, we do charge a membership fee, and offer a discount if this is paid promptly in the term or annually all up front.
As well as playing music together, we enjoy a very strong social scene which includes post-rehearsal drinks and regular nights out. Our age range is wide with some people just having left university and a few well into retirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to audition?
Definitely not! Just come along to a rehearsal and see how you get along!
I haven’t played since uni 10 years ago. Will I be able to play?
We often have new members who haven’t played for a while and are brushing up their skills. We’d be delighted to be part of you getting back into this wonderful hobby.
What music will I be playing?
We aim to be both popular and adventurous in our repertoire. Whilst we perform a wide range of music, we tend to focus on large orchestral works of the late 19th and 20th centuries.