Recruiting now!

Come and join us! Joining the orchestra costs only £25 per term with reductions for additional family members.

We meet on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. Full details can be found on the "Meeting dates" page.

To join the orchestra, you can use the form on the "Contact us" page, e-mail Elaine at wco@windsororchestra.org.uk, call on 01753 859123, or even just turn up, instrument in hand, at one of the rehearsals.

Our next concert

Come and hear us! Our next concert is the 2015 Christmas concert at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday 4th December, 2014 and will be held at the Dedworth Green Baptist Church. Entrance is free (though a voluntary collection for charity is taken).

Introducing the orchestra

Who we are

The Windsor Community Orchestra is a local orchestra for all ages, including children above 9 years old, young people and adults, who meet to learn a wide range of music and perform together in the community.

Anyone who plays a musical instrument is welcome to come and perform with us, whatever the standard. Currently, the orchestra contains recorders, guitars, keyboards,and saxophones as well as the more traditional orchestral instruments of violins, brass and woodwind. We welcome players of any grade or ability, but the orchestra is designed for those under grade 5.

The music we play

We play all sorts of music, from the classical repertoire you might expect of an orchestra to more modern music. Occasionally, music is composed especially for the orchestra either by our musical director or by members of the orchestra.

Our meetings

We meet for 10 weeks each academic term, with a 1 week break in the middle. Each meeting is for 2 hours, with a break for refreshments and conversation in the middle.

The first 9 meetings are rehearsals preparing us for the last week of the 10, which is always a concert.

We meet on Thursdays at 7.00 p.m. at the Dedworth Green Baptist Church.

Full details, including all the term's dates, can be found on the "Meeting dates" page.

Joining the orchestra

All you need to be eligible to join is:

  • have your own instrument
  • be able to play some notes
  • read some music notes
  • be enthusiastic to play all sorts of music
  • be keen get to know the other players
  • be aged over 9
  • like chocolate biscuits and orange squash

To join the orchestra, you can:

How the orchestra is run

The orchestra is conducted and managed by Elaine Foakes. Elaine brings her vision, skills and many years of experience as a full time music educator to enable people of all ages and abilities to play well together.

Elaine organises and arranges all the music, and tailors the music to the standard of each individual player, so no one is left out and everybody adds to the music the orchestra creates. It's a great way to improve their musical skills and each term concludes with a final performance all can be proud of.