Chamber Orchestra of the West - Pilot Project

Chamber Orchestra of the West

The Chamber Orchestra of the West (www.chamberorchestraofthewest.co.uk) is a newly formed professional ensemble bringing music to communities in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.   Recognising a lack in regular provision of world-class orchestral music in the South West of England, the orchestra aims to create and sustain relationships with communities across the three counties. We will perform not just in well-known concert halls but smaller venues, unconventional performance spaces, and less visited corners of the three counties, enabling a diverse range of people including those marginalised, both geographically and socially, to interact with live orchestral music.

Community-based music

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of community groups and activity as social lifelines for many. We are looking to the future and feel we have something very special to offer a rapidly changing world; we wish to facilitate community interaction and connection through Music and the Arts.  We believe that right now is the time for the Arts world to reset and refocus, putting communities back at the heart of musical provision which has previously been, all too often, focussed around the largest urban areas.

Pilot Project

We are raising funds for our pilot project, scheduled to take place in early December and focussing on targeted areas in Somerset, with performances and community work in and around Yeovil, Minehead, Dulverton and Taunton.

The ensemble will work in partnership with local community organisations including Charis Refugees to reach refugee families in and around Taunton, with Love Yeovil to produce pop up performances throughout the town, and with the Hope Centre, Minehead, to reach people affected by drug and alcohol addiction.

The string ensemble of 11 world-class players, led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Shave will present an eclectic mix of repertoire, including works by Ruth Crawford Seeger, Vivaldi, Hildegard Von Bingen, and Danish folk tunes.  

This initial pilot project will inform our planning for subsequent work in 2022, when we aim to expand our reach to Devon and Cornwall, and create opportunities to demonstrate our potential to future funding bodies and begin forging local partnerships.

Rewards

We've got some great rewards as a way to thank you for your support - from shout outs on our social media channels, to invitations to open rehearsals and a cuppa with the musicians. Full details are listed on the right hand side of this page.

Finally...

Thank you for your support!  Every pledge takes us closer to our target and our ability to get things off the ground with our pilot project which we hope will be the first of many.  We also need your help in spreading the word about our campaign - please help us by sharing a link to this page via Twitter (@OrchestraWest) and Facebook (@ChamberOrchestraoftheWest).