The Cobweb Orchestra turns 30
Emma Pearson, Publicity and Marketing Officer of The Cobweb Orchestra, shares with us how her group celebrated their 30th anniversary.
The Cobweb Orchestra celebrated its 30th birthday in October 2025! We had a full day of celebration at Dipton Community Jubilee Centre, County Durham, which included playing compositions written for The Cobweb Orchestra, a work specially written for the 30th birthday celebration, a large and popular work chosen by and voted for by members, an auction of promises and donated gifts, a celebratory shared lunch and of course birthday cake and bubbles!
The history of The Cobweb Orchestra
The Cobweb Orchestra is a friendly, open-access and multi-award winning organisation, with nine amateur community orchestras spread across the North of England.
The history of the orchestra started on 5 October 1995 as a short series of evening classes in county Durham designed for players wanting to return to music and who were invited to 'blow the cobwebs off your music stand'. The participants enjoyed it so much they wanted it to continue, the name stuck, and so The Cobweb Orchestra was born. The orchestra has continued to grow and develop under the inspirational direction of founding Creative Director, Andy Jackson, who still conducts the Tyneside Group, with the directing baton passed to current Creative Director Mark Edwards in 2022. The orchestra currently has a mailing list of over 600 and 250 regular members, including some of the founder members; everyone is welcome, and you don’t have to be a member to participate.
The Cobweb Orchestra today
Over the past 30 years the initial group expanded to the regional network of regular groups today and provides an extensive programme of events. Beyond the weekly meetings, there is also a full and varied programme of study days, residentials and concerts throughout the calendar year.
The orchestra became a charity in 2007, operating as a community orchestra for all abilities and ages with the aim to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music. Notable highlights have included an undercover orchestra, undercover opera, virtual performances during lockdown, and players performing in a variety of locations including underground in a slate mine, and in an underground prison!
Anyone can join in, whether you are new to music or if you have been playing for a long time, looking for a good excuse to 'blow the cobwebs' off your instrument after years of not playing, or whether you are an experienced musician looking to play music in new company.
The Cobweb Orchestra prides itself on being open access, friendly, supportive and nurturing. New faces are always welcomed at weekly groups and events and once involved you become part of the wider Cobweb family of not only music making but friendship for life.
To learn more about The Cobweb Orchestra, visit their website and follow them on Instagram / X (Twitter)
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