Welcome to the Hertford Symphony Orchestra

The Hertford Symphony Orchestra has grown and developed hugely in the approximately fifty years since it was first formed. We have built up an enviable reputation for high musical standards combined with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, attracting fine amateur and professional players from a wide area. Programmes are aimed to stretch the orchestra and to introduce our large and loyal audience to less familiar repertoire whilst including some real favourites. We have a busy season, giving three main concerts, a children’s concert, a family concert and a joint Christmas concert with the Hertford Choral Society.

The Conductor

Gerry Cornelius lives in London’s East End, he graduated from Durham University before studying conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Sir Colin Davis and at the State Conservatory in St Petersburg with Ilya Musin. He is a winner of the Henry Wood, August Manns and Philharmonia Chorus scholar-ships for conducting.

On returning to the UK he was appointed conductor to the orchestras of Morley College where he directed the first Tippett Memorial Festival. Since then he has been increasingly involved in productions of Opera, Ballet & Music Theatre as well as performing on the concert stage with many orchestras in Europe. He has been a regular member of the music staff for Aldeburgh-Almeida and the RuhrTriennale Opera Festivals. He has for the past eight years been the music director of the Hertford Symphony Orchestra.

Engagements this year have taken him to the orchestras of the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Bochumer Symphoniker in Germany and English National Ballet. In June he conducted the premiere of a new work for Welsh National Opera and in autumn 2008 he will conduct a new work for The Opera Group at the Linbury Studio, Covent Garden. He will also return to English National Ballet for their national tour and season at the London Coliseum. Otherwise he divides his time between conducting and coaching, both in the UK and abroad.

MARGARET HOLTER is a professional freelance musician and has led the Hertford Symphony Orchestra for ten years. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music and has become a well established player in orchestras throughout the country.

Rehearsal Information
Mill Mead School
Port Vale
Hertford
Tuesday evenings 7.30
Sept - June (term time)