Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra

15/06/2026

Join us on Sunday at johns waterloo for the chance to hear the massively talented perform the Hummel Bassoon Concerto. Its a treat not to be missed!

Programme also includes the fantastic 1st Symphony by Shostakovich and a new piece by talented young composer Alex Papp

Find out more about Emily at https://erso.london/blog/

Advance tickets: £12 for adults and £5 for children and students from We Got TIckets

On the door tickets: £15 on the door and £5 children and students

15/06/2026

Emily Ambrose

We are SO excited to be working with the talented young bassoonist Emily Ambrose. Emily is an RCM Scholar in the final year of her BMus, studying with Joost Bosdijk, Emily Hultmark, and Andrea de Flammineis. Prior to joining the RCM, she studied with Joanna Baillie Stark at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music. An active freelance player in London and further afield, Emily has worked with a variety of ensembles, including the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Royal Northern Sinfonia....

We are SO excited to be working with the talented young bassoonist Emily Ambrose. Emily is an RCM Scholar in the final year of her BMus, studying with Joost Bosdijk, Emily Hultmark, and Andrea de F…

09/06/2026

ERSO’s new Assistant Conductor!

The selection process for our new Assistant Conductor was the toughest yest - we had 16 great applicants, we had the pleasure of interviewing 8 conductors and 4 were invited to audition. The orchestra had a great morning working with the shortlisted candidates and there was very positive feedback for all of them, It was a tough choice with four such talented young conductors!...

The selection process for our new Assistant Conductor was the toughest yest – we had 16 great applicants, we had the pleasure of interviewing 8 conductors and 4 were invited to audition. The …

03/06/2026

Exciting rehearsal this Sunday where we'll work with four talented young conductors to determine who will be our next Assistant Conductor. Watch this space!

13/05/2026

Happy 100th Birthday to Shostakovich Symphony no 1!
Find out more about the piece with this article
And hear it played by the Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra with conductor Christopher Stark at St John's Waterloo on June 21 in our Shostakovich, Hummel and Papp concert

The composer himself never matched the joy, optimism and boldness of his first teenage symphony, as the chill of Stalinism settled on his music

10/05/2026

Calling London strings!
We had a great first rehearsal on Shostakovich 1 today - such an amazing piece! Still a few spots in the strings - email on [email protected] if you are interested in taking part. Concert June 21 St John's Waterloo and rehearsals Sunday's in camden

20/04/2026

Strings needed for Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra concert 21st June

We are one of London’s leading and longest established amateur orchestras. We’re a friendly group working to high standard with conductor Christopher Stark. Members are talented amateurs of all ages, music students, young professionals, music teachers. Students do not pay membership fees.

We need a few more strings to join us for the next concert which has a great programme - Shostakovich Symphony No. 1, a new piece by talented young composer Alex Papp, and the Hummel Bassoon Concerto with the fabulous who was last year’s joint winner of our annual soloist competition.
Players taking part are eligible to enter our Soloist of the Year competition (no entry fees) and win the chance to be our October 2027 soloist. https://erso.london/erso-soloist-of-the-year/

Rehearsals start May 10th and the concert is at 6.30pm on June 21st at St John’s Waterloo. https://erso.london/members/current-detailed-concert-schedule/

Interested? Email us on [email protected]

10/04/2026

At we are looking to hire our third Assistant Conductor!

The aim of this role is to provide valuable, paid experience to a promising young conductor who would otherwise face significant barriers in becoming established in the industry. We would particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups including London-based women, trans and non-binary conductors. Applicants who can articulate how they have encountered barriers to progress and why this role would therefore be transformative to their prospects would also be very welcome.

The role will commence in September 2026 and last for two years.
To find out more go to:

ERSO is one of London’s leading and longest established amateur orchestras, working to a very high standard with Principal Conductor Christopher Stark.  Each season we hold 3 Sunday concerts a…

27/03/2026

Meg Glover- our 2026 ERSO Soloist of the Year

We had some fabulous applications for this year's soloist competition but one - Meg Glover - blew us away with her saxophone playing. Meg was awarded the title of 2026 Soloist of the Year and will be our concerto finalist in October 2026. We caught up with Meg to find out more about her: What is your main occupation at the moment?...

We had some fabulous applications for this year’s soloist competition but one – Meg Glover – blew us away with her saxophone playing. Meg was awarded the title of 2026 Soloist of …

16/03/2026

Some amazing solo playing last night at our Every Piece Tells a Story concert!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044208737384
https://www.facebook.com/megan.glover.1800