The Boyce Chamber Orchestra
Founded in 1969, the orchestra in its early days was a small string group enhanced occasionally by two oboes and a spinet. Woodwind, brass and percussion players were added as it accepted invitations to accompany choral societies. These players were frequently freelance, professional musicians and their playing contributed to the growing reputation of the regular strin
g ensemble. The orchestra gave its first concert as a full symphony orchestra in 1978 and thereafter a symphonic concert has featured in nearly all the orchestra’s yearly programmes. Its first members were mostly from the Doncaster area and were made up of adult amateur players, teachers, lecturers, and advanced pupils from local schools, a position that still applies today. From the very beginning, instrumental teachers and their advanced pupils have had an important part to play. Many young people have retained their membership while attending university or college and the orchestra is proud that several have continued to play with us even as they developed distinguished musical careers. It is significant that more than a few made their first solo public appearances with the orchestra. Although the majority of our concerts have been in the Doncaster area, the orchestra has also played numerous times in York Minster, Southwell Minster, Selby Abbey and Gainsborough, and, many years ago, it undertook concert tours of Northumberland (twice) and East Anglia. Over a period of more than twenty years, it enjoyed a highly rewarding relationship with the Priory Concerts series for whom it performed a symphonic programme with soloist in front of a large audience at the end of each season. All our rehearsals and most concerts now take place in St Aidan’s Parish Church, Wheatley Hills by kind permission of the vicar and church wardens.
