It was largely Victoria’s vision and drive that brought about the successful creation of the Watford Symphony Orchestra in the summer of 2007. The orchestra quickly established a reputation for quality performances of the major orchestral classics and regularly plays to packed audiences at the Clarendon Muse concert hall in Watford.
In her role as secretary, Victoria looks after the day to day administrative tasks as well as being the orchestra’s focal point for contact for both the Purcell School and Watford School of Music. A key aim of the orchestra is to promote the development of up and coming local young musicians, both as concerto soloists and within the ranks of the orchestra, and Victoria’s relationships with these two establishments have been key.
Wanting to develop further the orchestra’s links with musical education in the area, Victoria persuaded the orchestra’s committee to promote a family-focused charity concert at the Watford Colosseum on New Year’s Day, 2010, with profits going to support music-related projects in local primary schools. This was a great success, and the programme of popular classics attracted an audience of over 750, with tickets being sold through 17 local schools.
The orchestra was able to donate a profit of some £1,100 to support the local primary schools projects as a result of the concert. From its inception, this whole project was Victoria’s brain-child. She masterminded and co-ordinated the myriad of separate activities involved, as well as carrying out her regular roles of deputy leader of the orchestra and mum to three small children.
