About the Orchestra  

  rehearsing for our March concert

The Telford Orchestra began life as the 'St. George’s Orchestral Society' in 1862, which probably makes it Shropshire's oldest orchestra, and one of the longest-established amateur orchestras in the country. In 1990 the name was changed to the 'Telford Light Orchestra', to reflect the new town and the type of music we were performing at that time. In 1999 we became 'Telford Orchestra'.

 

The orchestra has performed hundreds of public concerts in and around the Telford area since 1862.  Amongst the notable soloists who have performed with the orchestra are Harry Mortimer and Joan Sutherland, who sang with the orchestra at its Centenary Concert in 1962.

The size of the orchestra has varied widely over the years:  in the 1930’s the orchestra could muster eighteen first violins, as well as its full complement of other orchestral instruments; it later shrank to just five members, but its fortunes have substantially revived since then!  

For many years the orchestra performed regularly at the Majestic Ballroom (now demolished) in Wellington. For much of that time the orchestra was directed  by William (Billy) Shuker, only the fourth conductor in over 100 years. More recent conductors have included George Raxster, John Phillips, Ruth Matthews, Michael Davey and (up until the last season) Rory Freckleton. 

 

Our newly appointed conductors are John Murton, a graduate of Oxford University, who is based in London, and Michael Turner who has wide experience as conductor and performer locally and more widely. Our assistant conductor is Peter Marks, founder of the Eroica Camerata, a chamber orchestra based in Birmingham with players drawn from the Birmingham Conservatoire.