Information for players

Autumn 2026

Sunday 15 November 2026 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Sam Laughton

Humperdinck - Prelude to Hansel and Gretel
Ian Stephens - Pinocchio Suite (narrated version)
Coates - Cinderella
Tchaikovsky - Sleeping Beauty Suite

Our annual family friendly concert features music inspired by the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault and Carlo Collodi. Charlie Ross returns to tell the tale of the puppet who wants to be a real boy in this new adaptation of Ian Stephens’ ballet music to Pinocchio. Children are very welcome, especially if they are dressed as their favourite character!

Humperdinck - 2+pc22/ca2 4231 T 2perc 10'
Stephens - 332+bc3 4331 T 3perc hp 20' 2nd clarinet doubles alto sax
Coates - 2121 2230 T perc hp 15'
Tchaikovsky - 2+pc2+ca22 42+2cnt31 T 3perc hp 20'

Rehearsals:

All rehearsals at St. Edburgs

• Thursday 15 October 7:30pm tutti: Stephens, Tchaik, break; 9pm: Humperdinck, Coates
• Thursday 22 October May 7:30-10:00pm: strings only, Church Hall
• Thursday 5 November 7:30pm tutti: Stephens with narrator, break; 9:15: Tchaik, Coates
• Thursday 12 November 7:30pm tutti: Tchaik, break; 8:45: Humperdinck, Coates
• Sunday 15 November 1-3:00pm: rehearsal (Coates, Humperdinck, Tchaik, 2:15 Stephens), then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm

Winter 2027

Sunday 7 February 2027 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Joe Davies

Louise Farrenc - Overture No. 1 in E minor
Fauré - Masques et bergamasques
Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 3 "Pastoral" - soprano soloist Lucy Britton

Farrenc - 2222 4320 T 7'
Fauré - 2222 2200 T hp 14'
Vaughan Williams - 3/pc2+cor3/bc2 4331 T 2perc celesta hp soprano 35'

Rehearsals:

All rehearsals at St. Edburgs

• Thursday 14 January 7:30-10pm - tutti
• Thursday 21 January 7:30-10pm: strings only - Church Hall
• Thursday 28 January 7:30pm-10pm: tutti
• Thursday 4 February 7:30pm-10pm: tutti
• Sunday 7 February 1-3pm: rehearsal, then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm

April 2027 Phoenix Singers

Saturday 17 April 2027 at 7:30 pm at St Edburg's Church, Bicester
Conductor: Justin Lavender

Bach - Magnificat in D
Bach - Violin Concerto in E Major
Mozart - Requiem

In collaboration with the Phoenix Singers

Bach violin: Strings, harpsichord - 17'
Mozart: 0022 0230 T - 48'
Bach Magnificat: 2200 0300 T continuo - 26'

Rehearsals

Note all timings to be confirmed

• Thursday 13 April at Emmanuel Church: 7:30pm - orchestra only
• Saturday 17 April 2:45-5:30pm at St. Edburg's (with choir), concert at 7:30

Spring 2027

Sunday 2 May 2027 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Benedict Goodall

Holst - The Planets
Rest of programme to be announced

Holst - 43+ca3+bc3+cb 643+eu1 2T perc 2hp celesta 50'

Rehearsals:

All rehearsals at St. Edburgs

• Thursday 8 April 7:30-10pm: tutti
• Thursday 15 April 7:30-10pm: strings/sectionals - with Church Hall
• Thursday 22 April 7:30-10:00pm: tutti
• Thursday 29 April 7:30-10pm: tutti
• Sunday 2 May 1-3pm: rehearsal, then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm

Summer 2027

Sunday 27 June 2027 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Sam Laughton

Price - Violin Concerto No. 2 - soloist Fanny Fheodoroff
Delius - Irmelin Prelude
Mozart - Rondo Concertante K269
Sibelius - Symphony No. 2

Price 4231 T 4perc cel hp 16'
Delius 2232 2000 hp 5'
Mozart strings 7'
Sibelius 2222 4331 T 42'

Rehearsals:

All rehearsals at St. Edburgs

• Thursday 3 June 7:30-10pm: tutti
• Thursday 10 June 7:30-10pm: strings only, Church Hall
• Thursday 17 June 7:30-10pm: tutti
• Thursday 24 June 7:30-10pm: tutti
• Sunday 27 June 1-3pm: rehearsal, then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm

Autumn 2027

Sunday 17 October 2027 at 4:00 pm at St Edburg's, Bicester
Conductor: Sam Laughton

Programme to be announced

 

Rehearsals:

All rehearsals at St. Edburgs

• Thursday 23 September 7:30-10:00pm: tutti
• Thursday 30 September 7:30-10:00pm: strings only, Church Hall
• Thursday 7 October 7:30-10:00pm: tutti
• Thursday 14 October 7:30-10:00pm: tutti
• Sunday 17 October 1-3:00pm: rehearsal, then concert at 4pm; finished by 6pm