St Botolph's Music Society

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St Botolph's Music Society

Founded in 1966 by Colin Nicholson and Rodney Tomkins. We perform four concerts per year at St Botolph's Church in Colchester.

We also provide performance opportunities for talented and emerging local young musicians. St Botolph’s Music Society was founded by Colin Nicholson and Rodney Tomkins in 1966. To begin with they established a choir. Shortly after this they formed an orchestra to accompany the choir. Over the years SBMS has organised festivals, concert series, and holiday courses. We have also welcomed talented lo

cal performers and renowned international soloists. Continuing our ethos of supporting young musicians, we are also pleased to offer performance opportunities to young and emerging local musicians. In 2016 we celebrated our 50th anniversary with a celebration concert, performing many of the same pieces as were played in the very first concert in 1966. The society is still going strong today. We perform four concerts each year, with our concert seasons running between September and July. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings at St Botolph’s Church, observing the school terms and holidays. New orchestra members are always welcome. For more information on this, please contact us.

18/06/2026

🎹Hello Thursday! It's rehearsal day!🎹

This evening we'll be joined by Bethany Reynolds to rehearse Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 for our Young Soloists Concert . This will be an exciting first listen of Bethany's rendition of this work.

🎫 Tickets are available via link in comments.

13/06/2026

🎺Spotlight on Oliver Toms🎺

Local young trumpeter Oliver Toms is quickly establishing himself as an exciting emerging musician. He combines technical skill with a passion for jazz, brass band, and orchestral performance. Ahead of his solo appearance at the Young Soloists Concert, we spoke with Oliver about his musical influences.

He also discussed his favourite repertoire and what it means to perform Haydn’s iconic Trumpet Concerto with St Botolph's Music Society in our Young Soloists Concert.

🗞 Link to the full article in comments. ⬇

11/06/2026

🎵Hello Thursday! It's rehearsal day!🎵

This evening, members of SBMS will continue their good work preparing for our upcoming Young Soloists Concert. A few members will have a night off though, due to the repertoire being covered (clarinets and trombone, we see you! 👀).

08/06/2026

🎹Introducing soloist Bethany Reynolds🎹

🎶 Young Soloists Concert
🎫 Tickets link in comments

Bethany Reynolds is an 11-year-old pianist, cellist and composer whose passion for music began at age 5. By just 8 years old, she had achieved ABRSM Grade 8 piano and now studies with Siu Chui Li at the Saffron Centre for Young Musicians.

Bethany is a member of the National School for Young Chamber Music Players (Pro Corda) and the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain. She also plays piano and percussion with the Essex Youth Orchestra, cello with the Essex Young People’s Orchestra, and performs with a variety of county and national ensembles.

A dedicated young performer, Bethany has appeared at prestigious venues including the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall, Saffron Hall, the Angela Burgess Recital Hall at the Royal Academy of Music, and the 1901 Arts Club. In 2025, she performed a duet with Tom Poster as part of the Roman River Festival’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

Her recent milestones include her concerto debut with the Wivenhoe Orchestra (May 2024), a performance of the Andante from Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with St Botolph’s Music Society (November 2024), and her first solo recital as part of the St Andrew’s Lunchtime Concert Series (March 2025). The Young Soloists Concert marks her first complete concerto performance.

Bethany has also benefited from masterclasses with Tom Poster, Alex Redington and Andrew Quartermain. She enjoys exploring a wide range of repertoire and composition, with a particular love for Romantic music and its expressive possibilities.

Her achievements include a Gold Award at the UK Schools Music Festival, the CCMF Cup for Outstanding Performance on Piano, and an “Exceptional” rating at the Cambridge Community Music Festival.

Bethany will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 at the Young Soloists Concert on Saturday 11 July 2026. This event is kindly sponsored by the Hervey Benham Charitable Trust.

04/06/2026

🎵Hello Thursday! It's rehearsal day!🎵

After a week's break, SBMS will be back rehearsing this evening. We'll continuing to work on our programme for the Young Soloists Concert in July. There are only 6 more rehearsals to go, so the countdown is on!

03/06/2026

🎶Antonín Dvořák - Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"🎶

Born in 1841, Dvořák was a Czech composer. His style comprised the aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. He started as a violinist from an early age, displaying musical talent.

In 1892, he became the direct the National Conservatory of Music of America in New York City. It was here where Dvořák composed one of his most successful orchestral works, Symphony No. 9 "From the New World". This was the work that grew his reputation worldwide.

SBMS will be performing Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 on Saturday, 11 July at the Young Soloists Concert.

🎫 Link to tickets in comments.

30/05/2026

🎺Introducing soloist Oliver Toms🎺

🎶 Young Soloists Concert
🎫 Tickets link in comments

Oliver discovered music at the age of 5 and soon began piano lessons. He achieved a distinction in Grade 8 piano at 13, followed by a merit in his ARSM at 14. His brass journey started when he joined the Essex Scout Band at the age of 9 and began playing the cornet, while also taking up the trumpet. Soon afterwards, he joined 1st Class Brass, a community band, and worked his way up to principal cornet.

In 2018, Oliver joined the Tendring Brass Academy. He later progressed to the community band and then the concert/contesting band in 2019. In 2026, the band achieved fourth place in the Second Section Regionals, with Oliver playing principal cornet. He earned a distinction in Grade 8 trumpet in 2022 and is currently preparing for his ARSM diploma. Oliver also plays the organ. He achieved Grade 5 organ in 2022 and now takes weekly lessons at Chelmsford Cathedral.

Oliver has performed with several county ensembles, including the Essex Youth Orchestra, Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra, Essex Youth Symphonic Wind Orchestra, and Essex Youth Jazz Quintet. One of his highlights is the Essex Youth Orchestra’s annual European tour. Through these tours, he has visited the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany.

He also took part in the NYO Inspire programme. During the programme, he attended a residential week in Newcastle. There, he worked with members of the National Youth Orchestra and performed Bernstein’s West Side Story.

Oliver spent two years at Junior Guildhall, a conservatoire Saturday school. During this time, he performed at Regent Hall with the brass band, big band, and wind orchestra. In 2024, the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain selected Oliver to perform alongside some of the country’s top young brass players. Since then, he has worked with leading conductors including David King, Martyn Brabbins, and Robert Childs. He has also studied with renowned cornet tutors such as Tom Hutchinson and Mark Wilkinson.

Oliver will perform Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto at the Young Soloists Concert on Saturday, 11 July 2026. The Hervey Benham Charitable Trust kindly sponsors the concert.

28/05/2026

‼️Reminder - No Rehearsal‼️

With it being the half-term break, we have no rehearsal this evening. We’ll be back next week to see the results of all the diligent practicing from this week! 👀

21/05/2026

Hello Thursday! It's rehearsal day!

This evening we'll be continuing from last week's good work of our Young Soloists Concert programme.

20/05/2026

🎶 Young Soloists Concert 🎶

Join St Botolph’s Music Society for a spectacular evening celebrating outstanding young musical talent and some of the most beloved works in the orchestral repertoire.

📅 Saturday, 11 July 2026
🕢 7:30pm
⛪ St Botolph’s Church

We are delighted to welcome two exceptional local soloists:

🎹 Bethany Reynolds performs Mozart’s sparkling and elegant Piano Concerto No. 17
🎺 Oliver Toms takes centre stage in Haydn’s dazzling Trumpet Concerto

The programme also features:
✨ Dvořák’s powerful and deeply moving Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”
✨ Rossini’s lively and energetic Barber of Seville Overture

An inspiring evening of youthful artistry, unforgettable melodies, and orchestral favourites awaits.

This concert is kindly sponsored by the Hervey Benham Charitable Trust.

We look forward to seeing you there!

🎫 Link to tickets in comments.

Address

St Botolph's Church
Colchester
CO27EE

Website

https://www.sbms.org.uk/

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