Plans for our forthcoming concerts have been finalised and we are looking forward to an exciting new season.

Sadly, as of 15th July we have received notification that due to Covid-19 restrictions the Assembly Hall Theatre has had to cancel all performances up to and including 1st November 2020. This means that we will not be able to perform our planned concerts with Joo Yeon Sir and Benjamin Appl. We hope to be back on stage at the Assembly Halls for our February concert, tickets will be on sale once we have a clearer idea of the likelihood of this happening.

We are investigating the possibilities of producing some smaller-scale performances which would fit within the guidelines as they evolve – please watch this space for further news!

In the meantime, if you would like to support the orchestra through these uncertain times, please consider becoming a friend or a patron. Donations and sponsorship provide a vital source of our funding, particularly at the present time when we are unable to sell tickets. We really do appreciate your ongoing support.

In 2021 we have something for everybody: we are delighted to be welcoming the pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason who is making a fantastic name for herself, and we are very much looking forward to return visits from Katherine Lacy and Stephen Hough.

A special feature is our March concert when we celebrate International Women’s Day. In a first for the RTWSO we have three wonderful pieces composed by women and conducted by Alice Farnham.

Once again we will be running our Education Outreach Programme, inviting pupils from local schools along to workshops and a concert. The March concert also features ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ by Paul Dukas. This much-loved piece will delight young and old alike.

The season’s music is wide-ranging, with pieces from favourites like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky along with Ravel, Mendelssohn, Mahler and Sibelius among others. We are also proud to present two new pieces written by local composers, our own bassoonist Philip Le Bas and Sylvia Villa.

As always, there are very substantial discounts for season tickets which are actually cheaper than they were last year!