OQ
AL
~/
/
,
. hs GF?
en
ena
Forest Philharmonic: Profile
Britain has long-established traditions of music making. Not only does it produce professional musicians who
rank among the best in the world, but it also hasa history of fine amateur music-making whose roots go back
over 200 years. Today, these gifted and accomplished players and singers commit their time and energy not only
to their own music-making but also to the encouragement of young players who go on to make music their career.
The Forest Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in the London Borough of Waltham Forest in the early 1960s
and has since become this country’s leading community orchestra. In presenting concerts to rival the highest
professional standards, it uniquely combines the talents of London’s best amateur musicians with those of its upand-coming music students. It thereby fulfils its aim of helping to train the professional musicians of tomorrow
whilst providing a forum for the leading amateur players of today. All the major professional orchestras in this
country have players in their ranks who trained with the Forest Philharmonic.
The orchestra’s concert programmes range widely through the orchestral and choral repertoire, from music of the
Classical and Romantic periods through to the twentieth century and contemporary works.
The orchestra presents an annual season of concerts in Walthamstow and a summer concert in the Royal festival
Hall. Recently, the Forest Philharmonic has performed at the Barbican HalJand, by invitation, in Cheltenham,
Dudley and Eton.
Major international soloists who have performed with the orchestra include pianists John Lill and Ronan O’ Hora,
violinists Gyérgy Pauk and Tasmin Little and singers Sarah Walker and Della Jones. The orchestra was delighted
to work with ’cellist Natalie Clein shortly after she became both BBC Young Musician and Eurovision Young
Musician in 1994.
Under the direction of Mark Shanahan, Artistic Director since 1991, the orchestra continues to go from strength
to strength, both technically and artistically. Whatever the programme, rehearsals are extensive and detailed,
benefiting from the professional coaching given at every rehearsal by string section principals, a unique feature of
the orchestra. The result is a potent combination of outstanding musicianship, technical proficiency, superb
preparation and the sheer enjoyment of creating wonderful music.
01 August 2000
(a
A)
i
Kis
qu.
4 Axe # of ide
| S/o gU4
Vie & & y.
Var
a
biRaneteh
f
‘
f
Fe
f
PP
/
,
ee,
Clk
?
@
t i é_—
ee
Bn.
a2
4
/
7
q
hf -
f
\ CG b Chgu\ (h
a a \ Farah(
*
a
coos cs ots ~
’