History
The Portobello Orchestra began in 1973 as an evening class at Kensington Adult Education Institute. Founding Conductor Rachel Fleetcroft was followed by Richard Gonski (appointed in 1985) and Philip Mackenzie (appointed in 1995). Anthony Weeden, joined us as Conductor in 2001. In June 2000 the orchestra became an independent registered charity and since then has managed its affairs through a committee elected by the members.
Repertoire
A constantly evolving repertoire is chosen to extend the orchestra’s musical experience and give enjoyment to players and audiences. We perform classical symphonies and concertos as well as romantic and modern music. Recent programmes have included: Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Haydn’s ‘Clock’ Symphony. Peter and the Wolf was the centrepiece of our first concert for children. In March 2007 we performed Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Sinfonietta for Ten Winds by Raff, An English Suite by Parry and Schubert’s Tragic Symphony (no. 4 in C minor). We also perform contemporary music. Thanks to a grant from Kensington & Chelsea Arts Council, we were able to commission a new work for the orchestra. Matthew King, professor of composition at the Guildhall School of Music wrote the appropriately entitled Portobellissima! which received its first performance at our Christmas concert on 15th December 2007. To see a complete list of past concerts click on the link above.
Soloists
Our concerts provide a platform for young soloists at the outset of their careers. Our current leader, Mihkel Kerem has played violin concertos by Mozart and Beethoven. Madeleine Easton, former leader of the orchestra, is a regular soloist and, with us, has played violin concertos by Mendelssohn, Paganini and Bruch. Other recent soloists include Jane Easby, (Mozart’s Flute Concerto no 1), Nick Wolmark (Mozart Horn Concerto no. 3), Rosalind Acton (Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme) and Irene Tse (Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in D minor).
Away Weekend
Once a year we have an away weekend at Headley Park near Aldershot in Hampshire, when playing and socialising are pleasantly combined (Mozart and Haydn during the day and Brahms and Lizst in the evening). The event usually begins at 10.00 on Saturday, and continues until 16.00 on Sunday. We play a wide variety of music, sometimes linked by a common theme. The weekend is a good opportunity to develop sight reading skills and for the more adventurous to play a concerto movement. On Saturday evening there are impromptu chamber music groups.
Trips abroad
Portobello Orchestra is keen to develop its audiences and has played concerts in Belgium, Norway, Germany and France (see our photo gallery for pictures of foreign tours). In June 2007 we performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor along with a programme of English music by Parry, Vaughan Williams and Gordon Jacob at a Fete de Villages in Maillebois, north of Chartres. We had a very successful long weekend in Köln in 2009, where we played a joint concert with the Antoiterkirche Orchestra. They made a reciprocal visit to London in 2010. We were told that in Köln if an event happens twice it becomes a tradition.
Fundraising
From time to time we give concerts jointly with local charities and have raised money for the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre for Disabled Young Riders, the Kensington Housing Trust, the 240 Homeless Project, Sixty Plus and the St Clements’ and St James’ Community Project. We’ve also raised money for the Mathieson Music School in Calcutta and, in July 2007, for the Music School in Sarajevo which works with war traumatised children.
Constitution
Portobello Orchestra is a not-for-profit organisation (Reg. Charity no.1081212). It is run by a committee elected annually by its members. Committee meetings are held once a term, agendas and minutes are circulated for information and comment and there is a regular agenda item for Players’ Concerns. There is an Annual General Meeting with discussion on current issues to which all are encouraged to contribute. The orchestra belongs to Making Music, the umbrella organization for amateur music societies. The orchestra has a vulnerable adults policy which can be downloaded by clicking here.
Finance
Portobello Orchestra finances its own operations out of income from termly players’ subscriptions and ticket sales at concerts. One-off grants are occasionally raised from trusts, for example from Bridge House Trust. Kensington and Chelsea Arts Council gave a grant to purchase a set of timpani and, in 2007, awarded a grant for a new composition by Matthew King, which was premiered on 15th December 2007.