In the run-up to the final performance the Choir will be holding ‘open rehearsals’, giving prospective new members the opportunity to come along and take part. For more information, download the PDF from this article.

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The Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra will combine forces with the Isle of Wight Cantata Choir on Saturday March the 17th at Medina Theatre to perform Howard Blake’s oratorio “Benedictus”. The work will feature the tenor Philip O’Brien, with Nathan Thomas narrating and Rosalind Ventris on viola.

The concert will open with Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, followed by Telemann’s Viola Concerto with soloist Rosalind Ventris.

Tickets for the concert are available now from the box office on 01983 527020.

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Now that Christmas and the New Year have been and gone, why not brighten up a dark winter’s night with our January concert? The evening’s music at -as usual- Medina Theatre, begins at 7.30pm with Brahms’ Tragic Overture, followed by Horovitz’ Oboe Concerto (which premièred here on the Island during the first International Oboe Competition in 1993), featuring soloist Max Spiers. The second half of the concert is occupied by Schumann’s Symphony No. 2.

Tickets are available from Medina Theatre Box Office on 01983 527020 priced at £13.50 for adults and £6.00 for students.

If you’d like to help publicise the evening’s music, please download and display the poster by clicking the image.

Download the poster

Whilst it seems a little way off yet, the 19th of November is the date of the first concert in the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra’s 2011-2012 Season. If you’d like to help spread the word about the performance please download and print a copy of the poster!

The concert includes works by MacCunn, Shostakovich and Dvořák – the latter’s Violin Concerto featuring soloist Eloisa-Fleur Thom.

Download, print out and complete the form - get the seats of your choice for the next IWSO season!

Season Tickets for the upcoming 2011-2012 season of concerts by the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra are now available to order. Simply download, print off and complete the application form, then post it (along with a stamped, addressed enveloped) to the address on the form.
The new concert season begins on Saturday the 19th of November and will include the following:

• Brahms – Tragic Overture
• Horovitz – Oboe Concerto
• Schumann – Symphony No. 2
• McCunn – Land of the Mountain and the Flood
• Dvorak – Violin Concerto
• Shostakovich – Symphony No. 10
• Howard Blake – Benedictus (with the Isle of Wight Cantata Choir)
• Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert – featuring favourites by Walton, Coates, Britten and Elgar
• Family Concert – featuring Quilter, Humperdinck, Arnold and Copland

On Saturday the 9th of July, at Medina Theatre, the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra will be joined by Rhys Bowden and Jo Weeks, performing music from Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride”. Also featured in the evening’s music will be Beethoven’s Leonora Overture No. 3 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 1.

Tickets are still available from Medina Theatre box office on 01983 527020.

For more information on Ryde Arts Festival, which runs from the 24th of June to the 2nd of July, see their website at http://www.rydeartsfestival.org.

Alexander Sitkovetsky will be performing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto

The May concert by the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra will take place on Saturday 21st May in the Medina Theatre.  This is a welcome return to the Orchestra for Alexander Sitkovetsky, who performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto to much acclaim in November 2009 – on this occasion he will be performing the much loved violin concerto  by Mendelssohn.

Alexander was born in Moscow and studied at the Yehudi Menhuin School and the Royal College of Music.  He has developed a multi-faceted career, in demand as soloist and chamber musician, and has appeared in music festivals throughout the world.  He has also been featured in violin masterclasses and  TV documentaries and was described by the ‘Strad’ magazine as one of our rising stars.  He is an accomplished composer with two ballet scores performed in London.  The Orchestra is delighted that he has returned to work with them again.

The opening piece in the concert is the magnificent tone poem by Respighi ‘The Fountains of Rome’ depicting four of that city’s most famous fountains.  The work is richly scored and lyrical showing each fountain at its’ best.

The second half of the programme is a performance of the Symphony No.1 by Elgar.  This work, composed quite late on in his career, has all the nobility and breadth that we have come to expect, with a meltingly beautiful third movement and triumphant comclusion.

The concert is conducted by the Music Director of the Orchestra, Jonathan Butcher.

The concert is on Saturday May 1st at 7.30pm in the Medina Theatre.  Details and tickets from the Medina Box Office on 01983 527020.