It’s been 40 years since musically inclined employees of the Civil Service got together for their first meeting at the CS Recreation Centre under Marsham Towers, to discuss forming a symphony orchestra. They founded the Civil Service Orchestra and started rehearsing in a MOD building in Holborn. After overcoming initial problems, such as the clarinets outnumbering the violins, the Orchestra held its first concert just before Christmas 1978 in the Civil Service Theatre near Trafalgar Square.
Since those early days, the Orchestra has evolved into the force that it is today, under the name The Whitehall Orchestra.With around 50 members, aged 21 to 91, who come from variety of sectors including the Civil Service, the art world, advertising, banking and many others, the Whitehall Orchestra performs three or four concerts per year featuring classical repertoire for large orchestras from Beethoven to the present day, including commissioned works.
On Saturday, 17thNovember 2018 at 7.30pm, The Whitehall Orchestra will celebrate its 40thanniversary in a concertheld at St. James’ Church in Paddington (Sussex Gardens, W2 3UD). Under the direction of Michael Nebe, led by Christian Halstead and with Emma Jane Walker on piano, the celebratory programme will feature:
ELGAR: In the South “Alassio” concert overture
DOHNANYI: Variations on a Nursery Song, for Piano and Orchestra with Emma Jane Walker
WAGNER: Parsifal, Prelude for Act 1 and Good Friday Music
DEBUSSY: La Mer, three symphonic sketches
It will be a wonderful anniversary celebration of this ambitious, friendly orchestra that achieves high standards in concerts. Tickets are £12/ £10 conc. available from wegottickets.com/whitehallorch. For the occasion of its 40thanniversary, the Orchestra has also launched a new website whitehallorchestra.org.uk
