Past Concerts

Friday 24 November 2017, 7:30pm

VERDI'S REQUIEM 

Featuring The Skolia Choir

Conductors: Spencer Down & Elizabeth de Lacey

Soprano: Honey Rouhani

Mezzo-Soprano: Sarah Denbee

Tenor: Matthew Kimble

Bass: Ashley Mercer

Venue: St Peter’s Church, Kensington Park Rd, Opposite Stanley Gardens, Notting Hill W11 2PN

Tickets: £15 (Advance) £12 (Concessions), £18 (On the door), £5 (Children under 12) (TICKETS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT)

 Docklands Sinfonia joins forces with the award-winning Skolia Choir for this one-off performance of Verdi's masterpiece in the stunning surroundings of St Peter's Church in Notting Hill.

Friday 7 July 2017, 7:30pm

THE CARETAKER'S GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA

A fantastic new concert experience!

The Caretakers Guid to the Orchestra

Conductor: Spencer Down

Narrator and illustrator: James Mayhew

Director: Will Tuckett

  • Jeremy Holland-Smith - The Caretaker's Guide to the Orchestra (World premiere)
  • Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake (Live narration and painting - James Mayhew)
  • Mussorgsky - Night on Bald Mountain
  • Gershwin - An American in Paris

Venue: St Anne's, Limehouse, Three Colt Street, London E14 7HP

Tickets: £15 (Advanced) £18 (On the door) ,£5 (Children under 12), £12 (Concessions - Students/Retired)

 

Tickets are now available for the world premiere of Docklands Sinfonia's fantastic new concert experience - The Caretaker's Guide to the Orchestra - on Friday July 7th 2017.

Written by acclaimed composer Jeremy Holland-Smith, narrated by children's author James Mayhew and directed by the Royal Opera House's Will Tuckett, The Caretaker's Guide to the Orchestra takes you on a thrilling journey of musical discovery.

Children and adults (of all ages) are welcome to join conductor Spencer Down and Docklands Sinfonia for this special concert at St Anne's, Limehouse, in the East End.

The programme also includes three popular pieces of music – Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’, Mussorgsky’s ‘Night on Bald Mountain’ and Gershwin’s ‘An American in Paris’.

Composer Jeremy Holland-Smith recently orchestrated the music for the Universal hit film 'sing'. His fresh and approachable score will be choreographed by Will Tuckett, who recently won an Oliver Award for his production of 'Wind in the Willows.'

James Mayhew, author of much-loved children's books such as 'Ella Bella Ballerina' and 'Katie's Pictures', will narrate, as well as paint live scenes from his music. The audience will watch in awe as his amazing pictures come to life on a huge screen as the orchestra plays.

 

 * If you have already purchased tickets, please note the the title of the concert has now changed, but all other details remain the same. Seats are allocated on the night on a first-come, first-served basis.

Friday 17 March 2017, 7:30pm

Men Who March Away.. an epic musical love story by Mike Batt

WORLD PREMIERE

 

Men Who March Away

Venue: St Anne's, Limehouse, Three Colt Street, London E14 7HP

Conductor: Mike Batt

Tickets: £12 (Concessions - Students/Retired) £15 (Advanced) £18 (On the door) 

Seats allocated on the night on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Mike Batt will conduct the world premiere of his new musical ‘Men Who March Away’ in a costumed dramatic concert in the East End with Docklands Sinfonia at St Anne’s, Limehouse, on Friday 17 March 2017.


The epic love story, which crosses generations, is played out against the background of the beginning of the First World War through the Spanish Civil War to the outbreak of World War Two. The musical follows the fortunes of Katherine Grayling, a high born young lady of the early 1900’s, her fiancée, army lieutenant George Denham, and his unlikely best friend, music hall comedian Billy Brown.


The show itself, though being performed for the first time on this occasion, was actually written by Batt in 1992 just after the closing of his show, ‘The Hunting Of The Snark’, at the Prince Edward Theatre. The musical features some of Batt’s most loved and popular songs including ‘The Closest Thing to Crazy’ - made famous by Katie Melua - and ‘Market Day in Guernica’, which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies.


On this dramatic concert night, the audience will be treated to the entire score, accompanied by symphony orchestra and staged in ‘workshop’ fashion in full costume with a cast of top-class singers.

 

Bohemian Rhapsody - featuring Jennifer Pike

Jennifer Pike

Venue: St Anne's, Limehouse, Three Colt Street, London E14 7HP

Tickets: £10 (Concessions) £12 (Advanced) £15 (On the door) 

Conductor: Spencer Down

Soloist: Jennifer Pike

Programme:

  • Smetana - Vltava (The Moldau)
  • Dvořák - Violin Concerto, op.53
  • Brahms - Symphony No.1, op.68, C minor

Docklands Sinfonia is joined by world-class violinist Jennifer Pike for this special concert which celebrates some of the greatest Bohemian composers.

Jennifer has taken the musical world by storm with her unique artistry and compelling insight into music from the Baroque to the present day. She gained international attention in 2002, when aged 12 she became the youngest-ever winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year and the youngest major prizewinner in the Menuhin International Violin Competition.

At 15 she made celebrated debuts at the BBC Proms and Wigmore Hall, soon after becoming a BBC New Generation Artist, winner of the international London Music Masters Award and the only classical artist ever to win the South Bank Show/Times Breakthrough Award. Passionate about helping young people from all backgrounds enhance their lives through music, she is an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust and Patron of the City Music Foundation. 

Friday 1st July 2016, 7:30pm

Docklands Sinfonia & The East End Film Festival present

The Battle of the Somme Film

Battle of the Somme Film

Venue: St Anne's, Limehouse, Three Colt Street, London E14 7HP

Tickets: £10 (Concessions) £12 (Advanced) £15 (On the door) 

Conductor: Spencer Down

Programme:

BBC Radio 4 Theme - Fritz Spiegel

The Battle of Jutland: Presented by Admiral Lord West, music by Gabrielle Woodward (World Premiere)

The Battle of the Somme film - Music by Laura Rossi  

On the 100th year anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme Docklands Sinfonia will be performing a special concert commemorating the centenary of both The Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Jutland. During the concert, we will be screening the iconic 1916 film ’The Battle of the Somme’ as part of the Imperial War Museum’s Somme100 film project while performing Laura Rossi’s acclaimed new score live.

The film is the jewel in the crown of the Imperial War Museum’s collection. It is a compelling documentary record of one of the key battles of the First World War and the first feature-length documentary film record of combat. In 1916, it was seen by over half the UK adult population. Only ‘Star Wars’ has beaten it in box office records since.

Docklands Sinfonia will also be performing a new work commemorating The Battle of Jutland - considered to be the only major naval battle of World War One. We are fortunate to be joined by our patron - Admiral Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB, DSC, PC, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff – who will talk about the battle and introduce the work.

FWW Centenary logo

Faber Music

Arts Council England

Sunday 19th June 2016, 7:30pm

Save the Children charity concert

Docklands Sinfonia & The Kamkars at the Barbican

Venue: Barbican, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

East End Film Festival

Conductor: Spencer Down

Soprano: Honey Rouhani

Docklands Sinfonia will be performing to raise money for the charity Save the Children. The orchestra is sharing the billing with The Kamkars - a well- known Iranian traditional/classical crossover group from Iran consisting of seven brothers, a sister and a daughter. They will perform in the second half while Docklands Sinfonia will be performing the UK Premieres and some World Premieres of the Kamkars orchestral music in the first half.

Inspired to play by their father, the Kamkars have toured extensively all over the world and performed at the Nobel Prize ceremony. Their intricate and beautiful arrangements of traditional folk songs have proved to be very popular with UK audiences at previous Barbican concerts, so tickets for the June 19 concert are already selling well.

 

26th & 27th of September - Totally Thames Festival - Tower Bridge

Bascule Chambers by Iain Chambers

Sat 26 & Sun 27 Sep, 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm, 5pm, 6.30pm

Venue: Bascule Chambers, Tower Bridge Road, SE1 2UP

 

Docklands Sinfonia Brass

Soprano: Catherine Carter

Conductor: Spencer Down

 

Docklands Sinfonia brass players will be performing a unique series of concerts inside the depths of Tower Bridge’s Bascule Chambers under the Thames next month (September 26/27).

For the first time ever, Tower Bridge will be hosting an intimate public event, bringing this cavernous space - hidden below river-level - to life with live musical performances.

The large south Bascule Chamber is where one of the 2,500-tonne counterweights descends when the bridge is raised.

Using recordings of Tower Bridge’s very own lifting mechanisms, internationally renowned composer Iain Chambers has created a bespoke piece for brass and electronics, transforming this global landmark into a giant musical instrument.

 

Ticket information

For information on how to book tickets, please go to: www.towerbridge.org.uk/bascule-chamber-concert/

Cost: £25.00 per person

Date: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September

Time: 11:00am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 3.30pm, 5:00pm, 6:30pm*

Age: 16+ years

 

Due to the small size of the chamber, tickets are strictly limited and are selling fast after publicity in national media such as The Times. So please secure your place now for this once in a lifetime event as only a few tickets remain.

 

Please note: The Bascule Chambers are accessed by steep stairs and areas that are considered confined spaces. It is therefore not suitable for those with further accessibility needs.

The event itself takes place in the restricted machinery room and Bascule Chamber of Tower Bridge, and specifically the operational areas which house its moving parts and mechanism for raising the Bridge to river traffic.

 

Concert banner Cuba Fantastique

 

Friday 10th July 2015, 7:30pm

Cuba Fantastique

 

 Venue: St Anne's, Limehouse, Three Colt Street, London E14 7HP

Tickets:£12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (On the door)

Conductor: Spencer Down

Soloists: Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas (Guitar) and Emma Blanco (Violin)

  • Cuban Overture - George Gershwin
  • Concierto Mestizo - Eduardo Martín (World Premiere)
  • Symphonie Fantastique - Hector Berlioz

Docklands Sinfonia will once again break new ground with its exciting July 10 concert, “Cuba Fantastique”, featuring a programme of exuberant music that beautifully captures the spirit of Cuba. The concert at St Anne’s Limehouse begins with George Gershwin’s colourful “Cuban Overture”, which sets the scene for the World Premiere of Eduardo Martín’s “Concierto Mestizo”.

The Grammy-nominated composer is Professor of Guitar at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana and has successfully toured in Cuba, South America and Europe giving concerts and masterclasses.

His lively “Concierto Mestizo” will be performed by Martín’s former pupil, virtuoso Cuban guitarist Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas and his wife Emma Blanco, Dockland Sinfonia’s leader. This new composition was specially commissioned by Docklands Sinfonia to showcase the skills of our lead violinist and her new husband.

Dickinson Cardenas, who is widely regarded as one of the finest performers of the Cuban Classical Guitar School, has performed at many prestigious UK venues including the Royal Opera House, where he performed with renowned Cuban ballet star Carlos Acosta, the Royal Albert Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

The programme concludes with the popular “Symphonie Fantastique” by Hector Berlioz, which is widely considered as one of the greatest symphonies of all time.

Cuba Fantastique

Friday 10th July 2015

Cuba Fantastique

Venue: St Anne's, Limehouse, Three Colt Street, London E14 7HP

Tickets: £12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (On the door)

Conductor: Spencer Down

Soloist: Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas (Guitar) and Emma Blanco (Violin)

  • Cuban Overture - George Gershwin
  • Concierto Mestizo - Eduardo Martín(World Premiere)
  • Symphonie Fantastique - Hector Berlioz

Docklands Sinfonia will perform the world premiere of Concierto Mestizo for Guitar and Violin by 2014 Grammy nominee Eduardo Martín in this exotic Cuban-themed concert.

Our soloists are Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas, who is one of the finest young performers of the Cuban Classical Guitar School and Docklands Sinfonia’s very own leader Emma Blanco.

The thrilling concert will also include George Gershwin’s Cuban Overture and Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Get your tickets now!

Rodeo

Friday 13th March 2015, 7:30pm

Leonard Elschenbroich 2

Venue: St Anne's, Limehouse, Three Colt Street, London E14 7HP

Tickets: £12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (On the door)

Conductor: Spencer Down

Soloist: Leonard Elschenbroich (Cello)

  • Light Cavalry Overture - Franz Von Suppe
  • Sinfonia Concertante – Sergei Prokofiev
  • Lovely Roof – Jesse Bescoby (World premiere)
  • Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo – Aaron Copland

Docklands Sinfonia is delighted to welcome back to St Anne’s international cello virtuoso Leonard Elschenbroich for a performance of Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante for cello and orchestra.

Leonard Elschenbroich has excited interest as one of the most charismatic cellists of his generation since receiving the Leonard Bernstein award at the opening concert of the 2009 Schleswig Holstein Festival, following his performance of the Brahms Double with Anne Sophie Mutter under the direction of Christoph Eschenbach.

Since then, Leonard joined the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist scheme in 2012, a prestigious award offering performances and recordings with all the BBC orchestras and at the BBC Proms

Previous performances by Leonard with Docklands Sinfonia have been hugely popular and tickets are expected to be in big demand.

Docklands Sinfonia will also be continuing its strong track recording of promoting young British composers with the world premiere of ‘Lovely Roof’ by one of our oboe players, Jesse Bescoby.

The Snow Maiden

Friday 12th December 2014, 7:30pm

Venue: St Anne's Limehouse, Three Colt Street, London, E14 7HP

With Skolia Choir

  • Spencer Down - Conductor
  • Elizabeth de Lacey - Conductor

Docklands Sinfonia is being joined by the highly-acclaimed Skolia Choir for our Christmas Concert on Friday December 12th at St Anne’s.

The programme includes some fantastic Christmas and winter-themed pieces including The Snow Maiden Suite by Rimsky Korsakov. Other works include Vivaldi’s Gloria and Lachrymosa from Mozart’s Requiem.

Skolia was formed in 2003 by conductor and musical director Elizabeth de Lacey. The choir has performed several times with Docklands Sinfonia, including at Guildford Cathedral and at its base, St Peter’s Church, Notting Hill.

Epic Persia

Sunday 19th October 2014, 7:00pm

Venue: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ

Spencer Down - conductor Neysun Rouhani - piano Honey Rouhani - soprano

  • TBA - Epic Persia Competition piece (world premiere)
  • Hossein Dehlavi - Suite Bijan and Manijeh
  • Aminollah Hossein - Piano Concerto No. 3
  • Albert Ketelbey - In a Persian Market
  • Loris Tjeknavoria - Suite Rostam and Sohrab (UK premiere)
  • Reza Vali -3 Folk Songs (European premiere)
  • Mehran Rouhani -Sheyda Fantasy (world premiere)

This evening showcases the works of some of Iran’s most respected and well-known composers including Aminollah Hossein, Loris Tjeknavorian, Mehran Rouhani, Hossein Dehlavi and Reza Vali.

The idea of a British orchestra performing an evening of Persian music has come about as a result of the friendship and collaboration between Iranian pianist Neysun Rouhani and Docklands Sinfonia’s founder and musical director Spencer Down.

The concert is understood to be the first time that an 80-strong British symphony orchestra has performed an entire programme dedicated to Iranian symphonic music.

The Epic Persia concert is also aimed at enhancing understanding between the British and Iranian people following a difficult period in diplomatic relations between the two countries. Iranian soloists, including Neysun Rouhani, perform during the evening.

The project highlights the best of Iranian orchestral music. While British audiences may have been introduced to concerts and performances by traditional Iranian ensembles, the concert looks to widen cross-cultural understanding of Iranian symphonic music.

The concert features a wide variety of pieces, including a piano concerto, songs and suites.The evening includes a pre-concert conductor’s talk with musicians and composers involved in the event, including conductor Spencer Down and pianist Neysun Rouhani.

Docklands Sinfonia is also running a competition for a new work written by a composer who is currently living in Iran. Composers are asked to write around the theme of the Shahnameh – an epic Persian poem written by Ferdowsi. The winner, who will receive prize money, is also be invited to travel to London for the world premiere.

So Sinatra

Friday 18th July 7:30pm

So Sinatra

Venue: St Anne's, Limehouse, London E14 7HP

Docklands Sinfoina presents an evening of Frank Sinatra music starring Frank Cognoscenti, who has been enthralling audiences with his amazingly close interpretation of Frank Sinatra since 2002.

In that time, he has performed his So Sinatra show at thousands of high profile events all over the world in venues including Hampton Court, the Chelsea Flower shows, Wentworth ‘Lunch for life’, Dorchester Penthouse and Ballroom, The Grosvenor, Savoy, Landmark and Ritz-Carlton Dubai.

Frank is possibly the most complete of all the Impersonators in the 'Sinatra' field and one of the few solely dedicated 100% to performances as Sinatra. The Sound is so close and the delivery so effortless that he is constantly accused of miming.

As well as legendary Sinatra hits such as 'My Way', the concert will include some of the singer's lesser-known orchestral arrangements. Audiences will also be treated to a performance of Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

Tickets are expected to sell fast for this event, so please book in advance from the Docklands Sinfonia box office.

Emerging Young Stars

Sunday 18th May 2014, 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Emerging Young Stars

Venue: St Anne's Limehouse, London, E14 7HP

Docklands Sinfonia is joined by Hackney Borough Youth Orchestra and young composer and soloist Anoushka Sharp for this fun family concert. Families are encouraged to bring children of all ages to experience the joy of live classical music.

  • Docklands Sinfonia
  • Hackney Borough Youth Orchestra
  • Soloist: Anoushka Sharp
  • Conductor: Spencer Down 

A fun Programme including excerpts from:

  • Romeo & Juliet - Prokofiev
  • Firebird - Stravinsky
  • Danzon No.2 - Marquez
  • Star Wars - Williams
  • World premiere - Cello Concerto No.1 in E minor - Anoushka Sharp

New World

Friday 28th March 2014, 7:30pm

New World

Venue: St Anne's Limehouse, London, E14 7HP

Tickets: £12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (Door)

  • Samuel Barber - Essay No. 1
  • Jonathan Mayer - Sitar Concerto (UK Premiere), Soloist - Jonathan Mayer
  • Arturo Marquez - Danzon No. 2
  • Antonin Dvorak - Symphony No.9 (From the New World)

Docklands Sinfonia is building on its reputation for innovative programming at its next concert with a star performance by renowned sitar player and composer Jonthan Mayer.

Jonathan, who has worked with the London Philharmonic and BBC Concert Orchestra as well as the likes of Sir Paul McCartney and Paul Weller, will be performing the UK premiere of his new Sitar Concerto at the concert at St Anne’s Limehouse on Friday March 28th.

This exciting and varied concert also includes Antonin Dvorak’s hugely popular Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World’ as well as works from American composer Samuel Barber and Mexican composer Arturo Marquez.

Jonathan, son of the late Indian composer and Indo-Jazz Fusions founder John Mayer, is currently one of the most versatile sitarists in the world, having studied both Indian & western music.

From these traditions he has developed a unique creativity towards the sitar. He has performed around the world as a soloist in countries including India, Sri Lanka, UK, Abu Dhabi, Monte Carlo, France, Germany, America, Russia, Australia and Bangladesh. Jonathan has even given a private performance at No 10 Downing Street.

Great Britten

Friday 22nd November 2013, 7:30pm

Venue: St Anne's Limehouse, London, E14 7HP

Tickets: £12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (Door)

  • ‘A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra’ – Benjamin Britten with illustrations by James Mayhew
  • ‘Four Sea Interludes’ - Benjamin Britten with illustrations by James Mayhew
  • Symphony No. 4 - Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Docklands Sinfonia will be joined by renowned children’s author James Mayhew for a celebration of one of Britain’s greatest composers Benjamin Britten. 

Mayhew, who has illustrated childrens’ favourites such as ‘Ella Bella ballerina’, will create original art work while the orchestra plays two of Britten’s much-loved compositions.

The concert at St Anne’s, Limehouse, will be performed on the 100th anniversary of Britten’s birth on November 22 1913.

The programme features Britten’s  ‘A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra’ which is one of the composer’s best-known scores and ranks alongside Saint-Saëns' ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ and Prokofiev's ‘Peter and the Wolf’ as the compositions most often used to introduce children to classical music. This will be followed by Britten’s ‘Four Sea Interludes’ from his opera ‘Peter Grimes’.

During each performance of Britten’s work, Mayhew will be creating his own unique paintings to illustrate the themes of the orchestral pieces.

Acoustic Earth

Friday 12th July 2013, 7:30pm

Acoustic Earth

Venue: St Anne's Limehouse, London, E14 7HP

Tickets: £12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (Door)

  • The Land of the Mountain and the Flood - Hamish MacCunn
  • Slow Motion Sleeper - Pete Walton (World Premiere); Soloists - Acoustic Earth
  • The Concerto for Orchestra - Bela Bartok

Docklands Sinfonia is teaming up with exciting new trio Acoustic Earth for this concert at St Anne's where classical meets jazz.

Acoustic Earth features top UK session players Andy Findon on flutes and whistles, James Turner on tuned percussion and drums and Pete Walton on acoustic guitar. The trio has years of experience working on films (Harry Potter, James Bond, & Star Wars). theatres (RSC The National Theatre, Royal Opera House, London's West End) and festivals throughout Europe.

The programme, conducted by Docklands Sinfonia’s musical director Spencer Down, will also feature Hamish MacCunn's emotive 'The Land of the Mountain and the Flood'. Bela Bartok's 'Concerto for Orchestra' will showcase the talents of this young and dynamic orchestra.

Pictures

Friday 15th March 2013, 7:30pm

Pictures

Venue: St Anne's Limehouse, London, E14 7HP

Tickets: £12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (Door)

  • Fanfare for the Common Man - Aaron Copland
  • Cello Concerto No. 2 (Soloist - Leonard Elschenbroich) - Dmitri Shostakovich
  • Pictures at an Exhibition - Modest Mussorgsky/Maurice Ravel

Docklands Sinfonia welcomes back young cello virtuoso Leonard Elschenbroich for our next concert at St Anne’s Limehouse on Friday 15th March 2013. Named in October 2012 as one of BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists 2012-14 and billed as "one the most charismatic cellists of his generation", Elschenbroich will perform Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No.2.

The programme, conducted by Docklands Sinfonia’s musical director Spencer Down, will also feature Mussorgsky’s popular Pictures at an Exhibition and Copland’s majestic Fanfare for The Common Man.

The Nutcracker

Friday 30th November 2012, 7:30pm

The Nutcracker

Venue: St Anne's Limehouse, London, E14 7HP

Tickets: £12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (Door)

  • Giuseppe Verdi – La Forza del destino (The Force of Destiny)
  • Lucy Pankhurst - Ticket: 250654 (World Premiere)
  • Ottorino Respighi – Pini di Roma (Pines of Rome)
  • Pytor Illyich Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker

Well-known children’s author and illustrator James Mayhew joins Docklands Sinfonia for this magical pre-Christmas concert at St Anne’s, Limehouse.

The orchestra and illustrator will tell the enchanting Nutcracker story from the battles with the Mouse King to the sparkling Land of Sweets. As Docklands Sinfonia plays Tchaikovsky’s dazzling music, the audience will enjoy the thrill of watching James’ artwork emerge in front of their eyes.

James says he wants the concert to be 'relaxed, fun and thoroughly entertaining'. He says: ‘It’s a transient moment and the image is a one off, created in the white heat of the moment. You leave your ego at the theatre door and serve the composer and the audience! Hopefully people will see that classical music doesn’t have to be high brow.'

The concert includes the world premiere of 'Ticket: 250654' by British Composer Award 2011 winner Lucy Pankhurst. The piece is named after the single ticket which was given to the 8 musicians who played and died aboard the Titanic on April 15th 1912.

Docklands Sinfonia will also perform Giuseppe Verdi’s dramatic 'The Force of Destiny' and Ottorino Respighi’s stunning tone poem 'Pines of Rome'.

Out of This World

Friday 22nd June 2012, 7:30pm

Out Of This World

Venue: St Anne's Limehouse, London, E14 7HP

Tickets:  £12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (Door)

  • John Williams - Star Wars
  • Patrick Hawes - Quanta Qualia
  • Howard Goodall - Factum Est Silentium
  • Gustav Holst - The Planets Suite

This stunning concert promises to be an 'Out of This World' experience with space classics including John William's legendary Star Wars Suite and Gustav Holst's epic The Planets Suite.

The concert features the 100-strong Docklands Sinfonia orchestra and the acclaimed Skolia choir, winners of this year's Manchester Amateur Choir competition. Skolia will also be performing a number of choral works including Patrick Hawes' stunning composition Quanta Qualia. 

The evening will also feature a brief awards ceremony for winners of the Jubilee Arts and Poetry competition. Five local schools took part in the competition. Prizes will be presented by Charles Saumarez-Smith, director of the Royal Academy of Arts. Docklands Sinfonia's patron Admiral Lord West, Lady West, Lord and Lady Owen and local MP Jim Fitzpatrick will also be attending.

Gala concert with Alison Balsom at Guildford Cathedral for Forces Children's Trust

Wednesday 16th May

The Planets

Venue: Guildford Cathedral, Surrey

Tickets: £20 (£15 concessions), £15 (£10 concessions), £10 (£5 concessions)

 

  • The Dambusters March - Eric Coates
  • Lament (word premiere) - Peter Meechan
  • Trumpet Concerto – Joseph Haydn
  • The Planets Suite – Gustav Holst

Award-winning classical trumpeter Alison Balsom will perform alongside Docklands Sinfonia at a gala concert for the Forces Children’s Trust on May 16th

The concert aims to raise money for the charity, which raises awareness and funds for children whose parents have died or been badly injured whilst serving in the UK’s Armed Forces. Its activities range from organising days out to theatres to arranging counselling for bereaved children.

Alison, who was named Female Artist of the Year 2009 and 2011 in the Classical Brit Awards, will be performing Joseph Haydn’s virtuosic trumpet concert under the baton of conductor Spencer Down.

Docklands Sinfonia, which has enjoyed incredible success with performances at Buckingham Palace for the Queen and at the Royal Albert Hall, will also perform Gustav Holst’s dramatic ‘The Planets’ suite with the Skolia choir.

The concert is the brainchild of Lawrence Clark, who prior to joining the RAF, used to be a professional musician. 

Against The Odds

Friday 16th March 2012, 7:30pm

Against the Odds

Venue: St Anne's, Limehouse, London E14 7HP

Tickets: £12 (Advanced) £10 (Concessions) £15 (Door)

  • Mehran Rouhani - Sinfonietta Synthetical (UK Premiere)
  • Jeremy Holland-Smith - Memento (Featuring the A.D. Dance Company)
  • Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5 in D Minor

Docklands Sinfonia's next concert 'Against the Odds' at St Anne's, Limehouse, features the works of composers who have fought for their music to see the light of day.

The concert begins with the UK premiere of Persian composer Mehran Rouhani's Sinfonietta Synthetical. Rouhani, who studied composition at the Royal College of Music under the likes of Sir Michael Tippett, has never had his orchestral music performed in his native Iran.

Docklands Sinfonia will then perform the world premiere of Memento, an exciting new ballet work by British composer Jeremy Holland-Smith which features the acclaimed A.D. Dance Company.

The concert finishes with Shostakovich’s heroic Symphony No. 5 in D Minor. Composed during the most savage days of Stalin's iron rule, Shostakovich demonstrates that true genius can prevail against the odds.

Claygate Festival

Thursday 22nd March 2012, 7:30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Claygate, Surrey

Tickets:  tickets, costing £10 (adults) £4 (child),

  • Mendelssohn - The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave),
  • Weber - Clarinet Concerto No.2 (Soloist: Romola Smith)
  • Bartok - Rumanian Folk Dances
  • Mozart - Symphony No.40 in G minor. 

Docklands Sinfonia makes its debut at the Claygate Festival in Surrey. For tickets, please go to www.claygatemusicfest.com

Chelmsford M&G Series

Sunday 19th February 2012, 7:30pm

Venue: Chelmsford Civic Theatres

Tickets: From £12:50

  • Coates - London Suite
  • Wilson - Timpani Concerto (Soloist: Scott Wilson)
  • Delius - The Walk to the Paradise Garden
  • Elgar - Enigma Variations

Docklands Sinfonia is thrilled to be making its first appearance at Chelmsford's prestigious M&G civic concert series on Sunday 19th February 2012.

The orchestra will be celebrating the best of British orchestral music with pieces by Coates, Wilson, Delius and Elgar.

Coates' work has been made famous by many films, TV and radio programmes - The Dam Busters being his most famous. However, for this performance, we shall hear his most popular piece - the London Suite, which effortlessly evokes the very 'Britishness' of 1930's Britain.

Jeffery Wilson's Timpani Concerto is a visual and aural feast of melodic and rhythmic drama.

Delius' The Walk to the Paradise Garden is a truly beautiful and masterful piece. A perennial favourite, audiences cannot help but be moved by the sheer emotion of this music.

Lastly, Elgar's Enigma Variations is arguably one of the most popular British orchestral works

With more than 100 performances over the last 23 years, the M&G civil concert series has established itself as one of the most prestigious classical events in Essex, celebrating the very best in classical music from some of the world's most talented orchestras and musicians.

Other orchestras performing at the series, include Britten Sinfonia, City of London Sinfonia and the European Union Chamber Orchestra.

Made in Britain

Friday 2nd December 2011, 7:30pm

Made in Britain

Venue: St Anne’s Church, Limehouse, London E14 7HP

Tickets: £10/ £8 concessions

  • Coates - London Suite
  • Wilson - Timpani Concerto (Soloist: Scott Wilson)
  • Delius - The Walk to the Paradise Garden
  • Elgar - Enigma Variations

Docklands Sinfonia celebrates the very best of British orchestral music with pieces by Coates, Wilson, Delius and Elgar.

Coates' work has been made famous by many films, TV and radio programmes - The Dam Busters being his most famous. However, for this performance, we shall hear his most popular piece - the London Suite, which effortlessly evokes the very 'Britishness' of 1930's Britain.

Jeffery Wilson's Timpani Concerto is a visual and aural feast of melodic and rhythmic drama.

Delius' The Walk to the Paradise Garden is a truly beautiful and masterful piece. A perennial favourite, audiences cannot help but be moved by the sheer emotion of this music.

Lastly, Elgar's Enigma Variations is arguably one of the most popular British orchestral works

St Peter's Notting Hill

Saturday November 19th 2011

St Peter's Notting Hill

Docklands Sinfonia will be performing with the acclaimed Skolia choir at St Peter's in Notting Hill . The programme will include Sibelius' 'Finlandia', Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' and Poulenc's 'Stabat Mater'. Details on how to book tickets will follow.

'Passions of Youth' concert

Friday 15th July 2011, 7:30pm

Passions of Youth

Following its recording at the BBC's Maida Vale studios, Docklands Sinfonia will open its next public concert with Jack Beaver's Cavalcade of Youth.

The orchestra will carry on with the youth theme with a performance of Tchaikovsky's violin concerto by Docklands Sinfonia's impressive 22-year-old leader Jeanine Thorpe.

Docklands Sinfonia will bring the concert to a close with Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherazade - based around the tale of the young princess.

Venue: St Anne’s Church, Three Colt Street, Limehouse, London E14 7HP

Tickets: £10/ £8 concessions

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BBC Radio 3 'Light Fantastic' recording

Sunday May 22nd 2011

Docklands Sinfonia has been selected to make a recording at the BBC studios in Maida Vale on May 22nd for BBC Radio 3's 'Light Fantastic' festival celebrating British light orchestral music.

The orchestra will record Jack Beaver's rousing 'Cavalcade of Youth' which is best known as the theme tune to the 1950s radio play 'The Barlows of Beddington'.

Concert for the Queen, Buckingham Palace Ballroom

Monday 9th May 2011

Buckingham Palace

Docklands Sinfonia is honoured to have been invited to perform for Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at a Reception at Buckingham Palace this Monday, 9th May 2011.

The symphony orchestra will perform alongside distinguished artists – including world famous soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa - at the Reception to celebrate young talent in the British Performing Arts.

Rextreme

18th March 2010

Rextreme

International trumpet virtuoso Rex Richardson will be the guest soloist at Docklands Sinfonia’s next concert on Friday March 18th.

Rex will be performing the UK premiere of acclaimed American composer Jim Stephenson’s Rextreme concerto no.2 for trumpet and orchestra. Rex will also perform a tribute to jazz legend Louis Armstrong.

Rextreme was written specifically for Rex to showcase his extraordinary talent. The 20 minute work combines classical form with modern harmonies, sophisticated rhythms, and jazz influences. The trumpet part calls for extremes of agility, range, and endurance, pushing the border between what is ‘possible and not possible’ on the trumpet.

American-born Rex, who has been hailed as one of the world’s finest trumpet players, will be appearing in London after performing a series of European concerts. In 2008, the Yamaha performing artist was named the Brass Herald magazine’s personality of the year.

Docklands Sinfonia, which has been rated as one of London’s top five non-professional orchestras, will also be performing Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet.

Imogen Heap at the Royal Albert Hall

5th November 2010

Imogen Heap

Docklands Sinfonia will be performing the premiere of Grammy winner Imogen Heap's orchestral composition 'Love The Earth' at the Royal Albert Hall.

The piece will be streamed live over the internet and will accompany the singer-songwriter's new film about nature. It will be the first time that a performance has been broadcast in high definition over the internet from this famous London concert venue.

http://www.lovetheearthfilm.org/