Players

Brian Luck Clarinet and Saxaphone ( - 2002) Brian HCO Christmas Dinner (PhotoCredit Graeme Wright) Born in Dartford, Brian has been immersed in music for as long as he can remember. His musical journey began at school, where he first...

Born in Kingston-upon-Thames, Katy moved from Surrey to Essex when she was 6 years old. Once there she soon began her music career. Firstly, the violin when she was 7 and then the bassoon at 10 (that she learned at Engayne Music School in Cranham). Subsequently,...

When she was younger, Cathy was a member of Redbridge Youth Orchestra until the age of 19. After this, she only played for pleasure apart from helping when her children were part of their primary school orchestra. She worked at what was May & Baker’s i...

Donna Schooling spent the majority of her musical career helping to create music in Havering. Born in Harold Wood, Donna's infant school teacher, Mrs. Lindo, advised her parents to put her forward for violin lessons when she moved up to junior school....

Graeme Wright has been a hard-working and perceptive member of the orchestral committee for many years and became Chairman in 2019. He has also been our principal cel1ist since he joined in 1979. Born in Billericay, he showed an early aptitude for...

Jenny joined the Havering Concert Orchestra in 1977 when Robin Stone was the conductor and rehearsals took place at the old Drury Falls School (now the site of the 6th form college). For the last five years Jenny's husband Dave has also been playing with...

Joan Luck Flute Player (1961 - 2019) & Trustee (Current) Joan’s musical journey with the HCO, then known as the Hornchurch Orchestra, began in 1961 while she was training as a nurse at Oldchurch Hospital, R...

From the moment I walked through the door at the age of 19 into the HCO in the early 80's I got the warmest welcome.  I had outgrown the Youth Orchestra and was looking for something more 'grown up' - well I found it!  About half the orchestra would d...

Leigh was born in Neath, South Wales in 1944, and began his musical journey at the age of 11, mastering woodwind, percussion, and conducting. While a student at Neath Grammar School, he performed with the Glamorgan Youth Orchestra, the National Youth...

Madelaine Chitty began playing the violin at the age of seven as a pupil at Havering Music School. Through school and college, she knew that music was her main passion and pursued this greatly by involving herself in orchestras, choirs and string ensembles....

Malcolm Inman Commitee Member for Publicity 2018 - Current. Malcolm is a 'late starter' - he took up the cello at the age of 56. He had very little musical education. Under the tutelage of our Conductor Emurtris...

Paul was HCO Chairman from 2010 until 2019, and previously for several years during the 1980s. He first performed with the orchestra, as Guest Leader, in 1975, on which occasion he had to complete The Great Peacock,  conducted by the composer Humphrey S...

Sandy has been playing the violin since aged eight. Playing in the local youth orchestra was the highlight of her week. After graduating from the University of Nottingham with a Music BA in 2016, she moved to London. Here Sandy spent two years studying...

Stan van Lint Violinist 1982-2016 Stan was an enthusiastic and long standing member of the Second Violins. He joined in 1982 and his last concert was in 2016, when he decided to leave for health issues. Stan was also a committee member for some years....