The Rehearsal Orchestra is a symphony orchestra that runs weekend and full week orchestral courses for serious amateurs and future professionals; it offers training in professional conditions, rehearsing classical and contemporary music under the baton of prominent conductors. You do not have to be a member to play with us; just contact the administrator (see Contact) and apply for a course!

2008 COURSES

For full details, see Courses

• 19/20 January: Mahler 7
• 17 February: Debussy Jeux and Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales
• 16 March: Bartok Dance Suite and Britten Suite on English Folk Tunes
• 20 April: Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony
• 31 May/1 June: Stravinsky Petrushka (1947)
• 9-15 August 2008: our Edinburgh Festival orchestral week
• 18-19 October: Meistersinger (Act III)

REHEARSE TO LEARN

In the spring of 2007, the Rehearsal Orchestra was awarded a grant from Arts Council England in 2007 to provide financial support for a scheme offering continuing professional development to 25 young professional musicians who took part in weekend courses.

The scheme was aimed at graduates with a music degree or diploma from a recognised university or conservatoire, seeking professional orchestral employment.

The scheme was of benefit to everyone attending RO courses as well as offering a unique opportunity to help a number of young professionals at an early stage in their career. This scheme followed a pilot version in 2004-5.

AWARDS FOR ALL

In 2007, we were lucky enough to benefit from a generous grant from Awards for All, which enabled us to replace a substantial number of damaged music stands and buy our very own conductor's podium. Awards for All is supported by Arts Council England, the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England.

ARTWORK by Mary Shillabeer and Adele Wagstaff

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations in 2007, an exhibition was held at Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum Theatre of the work of artist Mary Shillabeer, who painted and sketched the Rehearsal Orchestra at its annual summer Edinburgh courses from the very first course in 1957 until her death in 1992 at the age of 88. A number of originals and prints are now for sale. For more information, please contact the Administrator on 020 7820 9994 or email admin@rehearsal-orchestra.org.

During the last few years, artist Adele Wagstaff has sketched and painted the orchestra, when not playing her violin, and an exhibition of Adele's work was held at George Heriot's School during the 50th anniversary Edinburgh summer course in 2007 as well as at the orchestra's June 2007 and January 2008 London weekend courses. Selected pieces are available to purchase. To see examples of Adele's work, please visit her website, www.adele.derosee.info, or contact the Administrator for more information.