Local Orchestras and Windbands
We often get asked if there are any orchestras or groups that allow amateur players to join. We have included on this page some of the local music groups that many of our customers attend. This is by no means a definitive list and is no particular order. If there is a music group that we have missed off and should be added then get in touch with us and we will add them.
MAGHULL WIND ORCHESTRA
http://www.maghullwindorchestra.co.uk/
The aim of Maghull Wind Orchestra is to provide a high quality enjoyable musical experience for all woodwind, brass and percussion musicians within the community regardless of age, ability or standard with professional level directorship and without audition or fee.
We rehearse every Tuesday evening 7:30-9:15pm at Maghull Town Hall, Hall Lane, Maghull, L31 7BB
WIRRAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
http://www.wirralsymphony.co.uk/new/
Founded in West Kirby in 1983, the Orchestra was originally part of the St Bridget’s Music Society, changing its name to Wirral Symphony Orchestra in 1995. From 1995 to 2008 the WSO was conducted by Gabrielle Horne. From small beginnings the Orchestra expanded in both size and musical achievement, and by 2005 WSO had become a large and vibrant musical body, and established itself as an independent organisation in its own right, and as a Registered Charity (No 1112140).
WIRRAL COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA
http://www.wirralcommunityorchestra.co.uk/
We are a friendly group of amateur musicians who enjoy making music together and performing at concerts and small music gatherings. As a community orchestra, we pride ourselves on being an open admission orchestra. We welcome all players irrespective of their experience, age or proficiency. Our members span a wide age range and as musicians include those, who have never played in an orchestra before, to more experienced players who enjoy playing in an orchestra and give valuable support and encouragement to other less proficient players
JAN MODELSKI BIG BAND
https://www.facebook.com/janmodelskibigband/
The Jan Modelski Community Orchestra is an amateur orchestra based near Chester, it was founded in 2001 to enable musicians of all ages and abilities to participate in a performing amateur orchestra. The atmosphere is friendly, informal and geared towards encouraging the best performances from its members and aiding their musical development. The orchestra has an "open admission" ethos - which means that there is no audition and no one is ever turned away, the only requirements are a basic ability to read music, a desire to play with other performers and a sense of humour.
LIVERPOOL STRING ORCHESTRA
http://www.liverpoolstringorchestra.org.uk/Home.html
The orchestra has been playing for more than 25 years, meeting every Monday night of the academic year at the Unitarian Church on the corner of Ullet Road and York Avenue, in the Sefton Park area of Liverpool.Each week around sixteen to twenty of our members come along. The music we play comes from all periods including Renaissance, Baroque and 20th century, and features pieces familiar to everyone who loves string music, such as Tchaikovsky's Serenade, Handel's Concerto Grossi and Britten's Simple Symphony. We have recently accompanied soloists in several concertos, including Telemann's viola concerto, Bach and Vivaldi violin concertos, and a guitar concerto of Vivaldi.
WIRRAL RECORDER ORCHESTRA
http://www.wirralrecorderorchestra.org.uk/Home.html
The Wirral Recorder Orchestra was founded in 1998 by Diane Barton to encourage recorder players from all over the North West to play in an orchestral setting.
We generally perform two concerts per year, in December and July, and have performed in many venues throughout the area, including Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral on several occasions.
The orchestra has more than thirty players and its instrumentation includes sopranino, descant, treble, tenor, bass, great bass and contra bass recorders.
Our repertoire stretches from Renaissance to Contemporary and includes commissions from composers who specialise in writing for the recorder. Our concerts have included works featuring a variety of soloists playing tuba, organ, french horn, viola, saxophone, bassoon and, of course, virtuoso recorder. We have also performed with choristers from the Metropolitan Cathedral.
SOUTH LIVERPOOL ORCHESTRA
http://south-liverpool-orchestra.co.uk
We are a group of amateur and student musicians who meet every Tuesday at 7.30pm (throughout term-time) to play music together. The fact we are a rehearsalorchestra means the music we play changes every few weeks. Our conductor is Dr Rob Howard. Thinking of Joining us? We are always happy to see new musicians, so please look at the section on the Orchestra for more details, and if you like what you see, drop us a line.
LIVERPOOL MOZART ORCHESTRA
http://www.livemozart.com/
The Liverpool Mozart Orchestra is a chamber orchestra whose members include music professionals in addition to experienced players from a wide range of occupational backgrounds. Founded in 1951, the LMO works with professional conductors and soloists – some well-established, many at an early stage in their career – and performs each concert after a short period of intense rehearsal
PENNY LANE JAZZ BAND
https://www.facebook.com/pennylanejazz/
Jazz workshop welcomes musicians and vocalists. A place where amateur musicians can come and play with others of similar or higher level. All welcome.
UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL BIG BAND
http://ulbb.weebly.com/
ULBBi s made up of over 20 members, who are mostly students from the University of Liverpool, but we have many members from John Moores and the other talented musicians from the Liverpool area!Thinking of becoming a member of ULBB?
Stop thinking and start joining! Any musician of any standard who can play a trumpet, trombone, sax, clarinet, drums, keys, guitar or bass is welcome along, and any singers too! There are usually no auditions (subject to spaces) and we're a friendly bunch, so come along to the next rehearsal!ULBBrehearse every Tuesday night during term time between 7:30-9:30pm in the large music in the music department.
LIVERPOOL HOPE UNIVERSITY CONCERT BAND
We welcome players from Liverpool and the surrounding areas of any age who are keen to perform in a wind ensemble. We do not audition and are a friendly and inclusive group. We rehearse weekly during term time at Hope University, Taggart Avenue, L16 9JD.
The band performs a variety of music for wind band ranging from the great standards of the traditional repertoire by composers such as Holst and Vaughan Williams to more current arrangements of film scores and pieces written by student composers from Hope. Although Anne James is the band’s Musical Director, student conductors also play a vital role in leading the band.
Past performances include a workshop performance at the Royal Northern College of Music as part of their wind band weekend and, the opening ceremony for the new Education and Enterprise building at Hope Park. The band has performed twice before at the Palm House to great acclaim and have hosted two wind band conferences in conjunction with the British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles (BASBWE).
Please contact Dr. Anne James at jamesa@hope.ac.uk for further details.
HESWALL CONCERT BAND
http://heswallconcertband.co.uk/
We have a library of some 650 arrangements have varied in size over the years from about 24 to 37 members and are always in need of new players of any ability.We practice on a Sunday mornings from 9.30 to 12.00 in Heswall and all details can be found on our website. Please contact Fred Dyer on 07946583476 for all info
SWING ERA BIG BAND OF WIRRAL current site is www.swingera.co.uk The site is currently under reconstruction but the existing one should give enough info for starters. We have a library of some 400 numbers and are currently looking for a trumpet and trombone player. Other chairs are always coming up so we will list any one who is interested in joining. We practice on Wednesday evenings in Wallasey. Please contact Fred Dyer on 07946583476 for all info
FORMBY BAND
https://www.facebook.com/formbyband/
Formby Band is a brass band based in South Liverpool. The band was formed in 1974 and has members from all around Merseyside of all ages. Under the baton of Musical Director Louise Hough MBE, the band has a very busy concert schedule, performing at a wide variety of concerts around the North West. We have performed for prestigious events in places such as St Georges Hall and both Cathedrals. We also perform many public concerts in parks and churches as well as private parties and corporate events, including many charitable events.
The band also regularly competes in local and national competitions, and has recently qualified for the 3rd Section National Finals, to be held in Cheltenham in September 2017. Recently the band have relocated, now rehearsing weekly in Sefton Park Cricket Club (Croxteth Drive, L17 1AP) in Liverpool on a Tuesday night, twice a week during contest season.
ALLERTON BRASS
We are a recently graded Fourth Section Brass Band based in Allerton, South Liverpool. We play regular performances throughout the year for both public & private engagements. We’re available to hire – providing ensembles from trios, quartets, quintets, 10-pieces to a full brass band.If you’re a brass or percussion player looking to join a band, we currently have vacancies and would love you to get in touch.
Email: info@allertonbrass.co.uk
Tel: 07752 678224
THE CRESSINGTON ORCHESTRA
http://www.cpcmusic.org/cressington-orchestras/
CPC Music has been at the heart of the South Liverpool musical scene since 1988. Our ensembles (“Cressington Orchestras”) welcome players of any orchestral instruments at any level.If you want to learn an orchestral instrument and/or play in one of our friendly groups, contact us or come visit us on Saturday.
PHOENIX CONCERT ORCHESTRA
https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixConcertOrchestraLiverpool/
Phoenix Concert Orchestra is based in South Liverpool.
We specialise in orchestral music from stage, screen and radio.
We produce two or three concerts a year often promoting young talent and have had several trips abroad since we formed in the year 2000.We have performed concerts in Elba and Madrid and had two trips to St Jean de Mont in the Vendee region of France where we performed in Nantes and smaller local towns.
RESONATE BIG BEAT ORCHESTRA
http://www.resonatehub.co.uk/orchestras.php
Contemporary orchestra for grade 2+, mixed instruments.Wednesdays 4.30-6pm.Notre Dame Catholic College Site.
Great Homer Street.Liverpool L5 5AF. Tel 0151 235 1640
RESONATE YOUTH PHILHARMONIC
http://www.resonatehub.co.uk/orchestras.php
Led by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Grade 2+.
Tuesdays 4.15-6.30pm, Bellerive FCJ Catholic College Site,Windemere Terrace,Liverpool, L8 3SF
Thursdays 4.15-6.30pm,Notre Dame Catholic College Site,Great Homer Street,Liverpool, L5 5AF. Tel 0151 235 1640
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Orchestral players aged 13-21 at Grade 7+ standard. They perform regularly at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and rehearse on Fridays and Sundays across the year. This ensemble is auditioned.
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Academy Orchestra
Orchestral players up the age of 18 who are learning at Grade 4-7 standard. Rehearsal on Sundays. This ensemble is non-auditioned and sign-up is via a waiting list.
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Brass Band
Brass players aged 13-21 at Grade 7+, they rehearse on Wednesday evenings. This is a new ensemble that is auditioned and we are currently looking to recruit new members, in particular: Tenor Horn, Flugel Horn, Euphonium, Baritone, Tenor Trombone, Bass Trombone, E Flat Bass, B Flat Bass, Percussion.
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Session Orchestra
This is a brand new ensemble for Pop and Jazz musicians aged 13-21, the rehearsal is on Tuesday evenings. This ensemble is auditioned.
More information on each ensemble and how to apply can be found here: Join our Ensembles (liverpoolphil.com)
There is a fee to join the Youth Company, however bursaries are available.
RED ROSE CONCERT BAND
www.redroseconcertband.co.uk
We meet every Wednesday morning 10.15-12.15 in Knotty Ash, Liverpool. Full details are on our web site but, briefly, we have about 18 players and welcome competent players of any concert band instrument. We have a wide range of music from marches, musicals, big band standards and lots more. If you have retired and would like to get back into music come along and you’ll find a warm welcome here.
THE JAN MODELSKI ORCHESTRA
www.thejanmodelskiorchestra.co.uk
The Jan Modelski Community Orchestra is an amateur orchestra based near Chester, it was founded in 2001 to enable musicians of all ages and abilities to participate in a performing amateur orchestra. The atmosphere is friendly, informal and geared towards encouraging the best performances from its members and aiding their musical development. The orchestra has an "open admission" ethos - which means that there is no audition and no one is ever turned away, the only requirements are a basic ability to read music, a desire to play with other performers and a sense of humour.
The orchestras rehearse on Saturday mornings at Barrow Village Hall (CH3 7LH), the Introductory and Intermediate Orchestras start at 09.15 am and the Main Orchestra at 11.10 am.
The Halcyon Syncopators Big Band
The Halcyon Syncopators is a community big band who play vocal, dance and big band music from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Based in south Liverpool, the band rehearsed on alternate Thursdays in Mossley Hill church on Rose Lane (7.30 – 9.30pm). It is also part of the CPC Music (Child, Parent and Community Music) Saturday morning music school. We welcome new players.
We have performed at parties and dinners at St George’s Hall, Sefton Park Palm House, the Adelphi Hotel, Bluecoat Arts Centre, and at Liverpool Jazz Club and Quarry Jazz. Our usual repertoire includes classic big band and swing music made famous by the bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glen Millar, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
https://www.facebook.com/HalcyonSyncopators
Manchester Saxophone Orchestra
The Saxophone Orchestra Manchester was founded in 2021 by professional saxophonist and music educator, Saira Clegg.
The majority of Saira’s saxophone students are adults and did not have many opportunities to perform with others. Therefore, Saira decided to create a specialist orchestra, that would meet at least twice a year, with the main goal of providing valuable ensemble experience to adult learners of the saxophone. The orchestra is open to all, regardless of ability, and we want to create a friendly community of players who all share a love of music making.
https://www.saxorchestramcr.co.uk/
Swing Collection Big Band
The Swing Collection Big Band has been in existence for over 30 years and is a rehearsal band, although we do perform occasional concerts.
We play the swing music of Count Basie, Glen Miller, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman etc and have a library of over 250 arrangements.
We meet weekly on Thursday evenings 8-10pm at Stanney Village Hall, Ellesmere Port.
There are vacancies and opportunities to sit in from time to time. Players should ideally be Grade 5 or above.
Please get in touch by email or send a DM via Instagram if you are interested in joining us.
www.instagram.com/swing.collection.big.band