Each year the orchestra gives three concerts in Sheffield, normally two in Firth Hall at the University of Sheffield and one at Bents Green Methodist Church. Our concert programme usually includes a concerto and it is the orchestra's policy to work with and provide a performance opportunity for young professional musicians who are just starting out in their careers as concert soloists. The relatively small size of our orchestra enables us to be adventurous with our wide-ranging and innovative repertoire from the baroque to the present day.

The Sheffield Chamber Orchestra regularly includes contemporary music in its concert programmes. In addition to performing existing works by contemporary composers, in the last few years the orchestra has commissioned new music by Stephen Dodgson, Arthur Butterworth, and most recently, Leo Birtwhistle and Ed Bennett as well as Sheffield-based composers Chris Wiltshire and Ray Hensher. As such, the variety of music performed by the orchestra is unique in the Sheffield region.

The Sheffield Chamber Orchestra is a registered charity and is financed mostly by ticket sales, subscriptions paid by the members themselves and kind donations by a loyal group of Friends of the Sheffield Chamber Orchestra. In 2001 the orchestra received a generous gift in the form of a legacy following the death of Arthur Humphrey, one of the orchestra's patrons. Other than professional fees paid to the conductors and leader, the orchestra is managed on an entirely voluntary basis by a dedicated committee of members.

New members are welcome, subject to available vacancies. Generally, a mininum playing standard of Grade 8 is expected. Currently, vacancies exist in all string sections, but especially for cellos and double bass. There are no wind or brass vacancies at this time.
For more details, please click here.

Making Music

The Orchestra is a member of Making Music, (formerly the National Federation of Music Societies) whose aim is to represent and support amateur and semi-professional music groups, including orchestras and music promoters throughout the UK. Making Music represents over 130,000 musicians and music lovers in the UK and is a source of finance for its members via subsidies for young concert artists and project funding.

The Sheffield Chamber Orchestra usually showcases at least one Making Music Award Winner each year. Our chairman Peter Dyke (viola) is the Orchestra's Making Music representative.

Listen to the Sheffield Chamber Orchestra!

Schubert Symphony No.6, 1st movement (excerpt, mp3 format 3.3 MB)

Schubert Symphony No.6, 3rd movement (excerpt, mp3 format 2.3 MB)

Sheffield Chamber Orchestra, conductor, Richard Howarth.
Recorded live at a concert at Firth Hall, University of Sheffield, 27th February 2010

Leo Birtwhistle's Five Movements for Chamber Orchestra written especially for the Sheffield Chamber Orchestra can be heard here (complete download, mp3 format, 22.15 MB)

Sheffield Chamber Orchestra, conductor, Robin McEwan
Recorded live at a concert in Firth Hall, University of Sheffield, 27th November 2010,

Acknowledgement
Some of the photos on this website are the copyrighted work of Sheffield-based photographer David Shapiro. We are grateful for permission to use David's photos on this website.