Helensburgh Orchestral Society is an established amateur orchestra which plays a range of classical and modern music. Membership is open to anyone who plays at approximately Grade 5 level or above. Please see the Membership page for current vacancies.
The orchestra was originally formed in 1957 with Bryden Thomson as conductor – click here for historical article
The orchestra meets once a week at the Victoria Halls in Helensburgh from August to Easter. Funding is from members’ subscriptions, donations and grants from Making Music and various charitable trusts. Gift Aid is increasingly a major part of funding.
Concerts are performed twice a year (December and March) in the Victoria Halls, Helensburgh, and occasionally elsewhere. In 2001 the orchestra played in Helensburgh’s twin town of Thouars in France and, in June 2009, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. In 2014 we performed in the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, taking part in a joint project with Dance House, who we previously worked with in 2012.
We encourage young and/or local soloists to perform concertos with us, including past and present members of the orchestra and students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and also perform with professional soloists.
The annual Appin weekend, which takes place at the end of September each year, is a spin off orchestra event for all ages, organised and attended by a number of members, their families and friends. For more information, please enquire via the contact page.