About City of Carlisle Orchestra
The City of Carlisle Orchestra has been performing in and around the Carlisle area for over 50 years!
The City of Carlisle Orchestra, originally called the Eden Concert Orchestra was first formed in 1962 by David Wells, Music Adviser to the Carlisle Education Committee. The Eden Orchestra changed its name to the City of Carlisle Orchestra in 1997
Raymond Brown, who came to Carlisle as Music Adviser in 1963, carried the Orchestra forward, and the Director of Education, Mr L. Charnley, who greatly supported and encouraged music in Carlisle schools at that time, also supported the Eden Orchestra. Subsequent conductors have included David Parkinson (1971 - 1976 ), John Hammond who guided the Orchestra for 33 years (1976 - 2009), Tom Howe (2009-2013), and more recently Hannah Quinn and Ryan Bancroft.
The orchestras objective is to provide an opportunity for regular rehearsals of the symphony repertoire for amateur and professional players, and to perform three outstanding concerts per year to our audience in Carlisle. During the pandemic many of us have carried on with our music making, by zooming together and playing a new piece every week. It has kept us going through very trying times.
The Orchestra plays three concerts a year in the city. For at least one of these concerts, guest professional soloists or gifted amateurs are invited to perform with the orchestra. We are sometimes joined by The Carlisle Youth Orchestra.
Donation for Ukraine
At our Spring concert, the audience collection raised the marvellous sum of £110. The City of Carlisle Orchestra has agreed a further donation of £140, so will be donating a total of £250 to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal for those fleeing the war in Ukraine.