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The next entry
in the Archive File takes us on to 1962 when the May concert was
reviewed in the Hornchurch Recorder. In a glowing piece, Peter
Halstead enthused: “What exactly Mr Eric Coles has been
doing with the Hornchurch Orchestra since their last concert, I’m
not allowed to know. But one thing is certain: their
strings beat any local competition and family virtues see them soundly
through formidable pages of music when orchestras with more isolated
talent would be left sadly limping….”
For a programme costing sixpence, the audience were treated to Mozart’s Piano Concerto where soloist Beryl Jones was described as “bringing the piece’s dark colouring into gravely beautiful relief”, as well as Schubert’s 3rd Symphony and works by Mendelssohn and Beethoven.
The list of players in the programme includes a fledgling clarinet player by the name of Brian Luck, husband of our flautist Joan……
Throughout the 60s the orchestra continued to flourish the under the stewardship of Eric Coles. Known as the Hornchurch Orchestra, performances were held at a variety of venues including Dury Falls School (where Havering Sixth Form college now stands), Romford
For a programme costing sixpence, the audience were treated to Mozart’s Piano Concerto where soloist Beryl Jones was described as “bringing the piece’s dark colouring into gravely beautiful relief”, as well as Schubert’s 3rd Symphony and works by Mendelssohn and Beethoven.
The list of players in the programme includes a fledgling clarinet player by the name of Brian Luck, husband of our flautist Joan……
Throughout the 60s the orchestra continued to flourish the under the stewardship of Eric Coles. Known as the Hornchurch Orchestra, performances were held at a variety of venues including Dury Falls School (where Havering Sixth Form college now stands), Romford
County Technical School (was in Havering Drive), Hornchurch Grammar (now Emerson Park School) and Gaynes School in Upminster.
During the Concert of May 1964, our ever versatile Chairman Joan Luck played three piano solos:- To the Spring, Clair de Lune and Andaluza. At the same concert, The Wanstead Trumpets performed a quartet of well-known
operatic arrangements. In May 1965 the Orchestra performed with
the Havering Singers, who still meet today. The programme
included Hail Bright Abode from Wagner’s Tannhauser and
Mozart’s Ave Verum.
By 1965 the Orchestra had changed its name to the Havering Concert Orchestra. In November 1968 the Orchestra performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with a young soloist by the name of Keith Gurry who had just graduated from the Royal Academy of Music to join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Keith is still an active player in the area and today leads the nearby Woodford Symphony.
Throughout the Sixties the entrance programme cost sixpence. By the advent of the 1970’s the cost had increased to 30p!
During the Concert of May 1964, our ever versatile Chairman Joan Luck played three piano solos:-
By 1965 the Orchestra had changed its name to the Havering Concert Orchestra. In November 1968 the Orchestra performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with a young soloist by the name of Keith Gurry who had just graduated from the Royal Academy of Music to join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Keith is still an active player in the area and today leads the nearby Woodford Symphony.
Throughout the Sixties the entrance programme cost sixpence. By the advent of the 1970’s the cost had increased to 30p!
A Look Back through the History of the HCO - Part 2