The Cirencester Philharmonia will this month be holding two performances around Gloucestershire.

The orchestra is led by experienced conductor Ian Higginson, who since moving to Cheltenham in 1983 from his native Merseyside, has worked as a professional musician and with a number of groups in the county.

As well as the Philharmonia, he is also Director of Music for the University of Gloucestershire, piano and organist at St. Edwards School in Cheltenham, and Conductor of Jubilate Chamber Choir, the English Concertante Orchestra and Cotswold Camerata.

“The orchestra is a friendly group who meet on a Sunday afternoon about 7/8 weeks before the spring and autumn concerts,” he said.

“It is basically an amateur chamber orchestra, although it does include some professional musicians in the various sections, who help enormously to maintain a high standard of performance.

“It is a very rewarding orchestra to work with and the players come from all over the Cotswold area including Cheltenham, Cirencester, Tetbury, Bourton on the Water, Stroud, Morton in the Marsh, Stow on the Wold.”

The upcoming concerts are at Bingham Hall in Cirencester, on Saturday 18th May, and St Peter’s Church in Winchcombe on Saturday 25th May, during the Winchcombe Music and Arts Festival.

“The orchestra normally only performs one concert in the spring and one in the autumn,” continued Ian. “But we were delighted to be invited to give a second performance of this concert part of the Winchcombe Music and Arts Festival.

“Rehearsals have been going very well for the two forthcoming performances.

“The main work is Joseph Haydn’s rather splendid Symphony no. 99, along with some other famous and attractive works by Mozart, Schubert and others.”

Ian, who is also a well-respected and published composer of vocal, choral and orchestral music, says that the friendly atmosphere of the orchestra is one of the things that adds to the quality of their performance.

He said: “It is always important for players to get on with each other and to have some time to chat, so we always have refreshments during a coffee break in rehearsals and often have a ‘Bring and Share’ meal before the performance – plus a drink after, for the players to socialise.

“This gives us an opportunity to unwind, get to know the each other and to reflect on the performance we have just given.”

And, as a community orchestra, Ian and the Cirencester Philharmonia are always on the look out for new people to come along and join in.

“We currently have vacancies for more violins, violas and double bass in the orchestra and very much welcome enquiries for these instruments,” added Ian.

“Although we don’t currently have vacancies in the wind or brass sections, we do also welcome enquiries from these sections of the orchestra too and would add names to a waiting list as opportunities do arise from time to time.”

Anyone interested in should contact vacancies@cirencesterphil.co.uk

For more information on the Cirencester Philharmonia’s upcoming performances visit www.cirencesterphil.co.uk