About us

The Rehearsal Orchestra was founded — as the Edinburgh Rehearsal Orchestra (ERO) — at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1957. Harry Legge, a viola-player in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra working with such legendary conductors as Beecham, Rodzinski, Gui, Giulini and Klemperer, had regularly enjoyed the RPO’s visits to the Festival and noticed the number of players about during the day waiting for evening concerts. To ‘keep them out of the rain’ he came up with the brilliant idea of forming a rehearsal orchestra to enable them to study the major works they would then hear performed by leading professional orchestras in the evenings.

Harry’s partner in this project was cellist Gillian Halse whose flair for organization and the charm with which she encouraged players to join made this a winning team. From the start ERO attracted the attention of the press and the Festival authorities, as well as players. Sir Thomas Beecham agreed to be the orchestra’s first patron (followed later by Rudolf Kempe, Sir Charles Groves and Sir Andrew Davis). The original courses lasted the full three weeks of the Festival.

Following the success in Edinburgh, the players demanded a “reunion” in London, and from this developed a series of weekend courses held every year in London and Manchester, and elsewhere.

Over the course of nearly seven decades Rehearsal Orchestra has helped thousands of musicians excel in their playing, and virtually every professional orchestra in the UK includes players who have benefited from our courses.

Courses

Meet the team

At Rehearsal Orchestra you’ll benefit from a team of high-quality and experienced professional musicians. Conductors and section leaders are at the heart of everything we do, and their enthusiasm and expertise make every Rehearsal Orchestra course an inspiring experience.

Meet our team

Alumni

Since 1957 the Rehearsal Orchestra has helped thousands of musicians excel in their playing. We love to hear from former players, so please get in touch!

Contact Testimonials

Schubert Octet, Edinburgh 1959. Mrs Clarke (cello), Julia Rayson (clarinet), June Emerson née Matthews (bassoon), Derek Oldfield (horn). Observed by Sue Clarke.

Gallery

Take a peek in our photo album!

Rehearsal Orchestra founders Harry Legge and Gillian Halse arrive in Edinburgh for the first course in August 1957.

A jovial Harry, one hand on hip and pointing a finger upward with the other to emphasise his point, in conversation with a young woman who has just arrived with her clarinet case in her hand. Around them are long wooden benches and other musicians taking out their instruments in the large wood-panelled hall which has huge windows above the gallery.

RO founder Harry Legge, keen to get the music started in August 1957, in the Debating Hall at the Edinburgh University Men's Union. With clarinettist Rachel Herbert.

A black-and-white photo of the orchestra rehearsing in the University of Edinburgh Union, a large hall with a polished wooden floor and large windows at the back of the orchestra.

... and go! Edinburgh, 1957.

Rehearsal Orchestra co-founder Gill Halse walking between the cello and viola sections, chatting to a viola player, during a break in rehearsal in 1959. The players are seated, only Jill is standing. She is wearing a light-coloured sleeveless dress. The rehearsal hall is wood panelled.

RO co-founder and administrator Gill Halse in action, Edinburgh 1959.

The Joy of Making Music - an article in The Scotsman (28th August 1957) reporting on the first-ever Edinburgh course.

A young woman with bobbed hair sat on the floor, in the middle of sorting through orchestral parts. She is wearing a light short-sleeved top and a wide skirt trimmed with ribbon.

June Emerson (née Matthews), RO's first Librarian, sorting out music. In 1971, June went on to found June Emerson Wind Music, music seller and publisher well known to wind and brass players across the UK and beyond.

A pencil or charcoal sketch of Open Rehearsal attendees listening in different poses. Many of them appear to be daydreaming, leaning on their arms or with their eyes closed.

Listeners at a RO Open Rehearsal of yesteryear at the Edinburgh University Mens' Union (where the gallery in the hall was hung with rugs to rein in the somewhat wild acoustics). Sketch by Edinburgh artist Mary Shillabeer, c. 1958-1962.

Schubert Octet, Edinburgh 1959. Mrs Clarke (cello), Julia Rayson (clarinet), June Emerson née Matthews (bassoon), Derek Oldfield (horn). Observed by Sue Clarke.

Two oboists sat on a bench, heads down, busying themselves with reeds.

Oboists engaged in reed sorcery in Edinbugh, 1959.

June, Harry, Chris and Gill sat on a hill edge on the Pentland Hills. June is sat sideways, the others with their back to the camera, looking over the city. June and Gill are wearing billowy 1950s skirts. Of Harry, leaning against the hillside, only his neck, balding head and brown shoes can be seen. Chris has rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt and is leaning on his left arm.

Downtime: June Emerson (née Matthews), Harry Legge, Chris Nicolls and Gill Halse on the Pentland Hills in 1958.

A sepia tone black and white photograph of the full orchestra in rehearsal. Light streams in through the large neo-Gothic window at back of the galleried hall.

Rehearsal Orchestra (then Edinburgh Rehearsal Orchestra) at its first meeting outside Edinburgh, in Manchester’s Whitworth Hall on 14th June 1958.

A sepia-toned photograph of the almost entirely male woodwind section in rehearsal, seated on a platform in a large wood-panelled hall. All men are wearing suits, shirts and ties in 1950s style. The flautists are playing wooden flutes still common then.

The woodwind section at ERO's first meeting outside Edinburgh, in Manchester's Whitworth Hall on 14th June 1958.

A hand-written letter dated 26 August 1969, from the then 14-year-old Simon Rattle to RO co-founder and administrator Gillian Halse:

A letter to RO co-founder and administrator Gillian Halse from the then 14-year-old Simon Rattle, who first joined us as a timpanist and percussionist when the Rehearsal Orchestra acted as a practice orchestra for the Conductors' Seminars organised by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in 1968 and 1969, under Sir Charles Groves. Sir Simon later returned to conduct the RO himself, in 2001, in Bruckner's Symphony No. 9.

Horns at Edinburgh, 1973.

1995 course participants at Edinburgh Napier University, Craiglockheart.

Edinburgh First Violin sectional. Oil on panel, 30x24cm. By Adele Wagstaff.

Artwork

Talented artists have been painting and drawing Rehearsal Orchestra from the very earliest days. Work is for sale to help support the orchestra’s activity.

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Latest News

15 Aug 2025

Congrats to Gwyn Owen

We’re thrilled for alumnus Gwyn Owen, recently appointed Associate Principal 3rd Trumpet at the BBC Philharmonic.