Wokingham Philharmonic Orchestra

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Wokingham Philharmonic Orchestra

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A new friendly orchestra located in Wokingham, Berkshire. Rehearses every Wednesday 7.30pm-9.15pm term time only. Players of about Grade 7+ standard. Ages 16+.

Coming back into playing? You are welcome too! Active social and WhatsApp group.

26/10/2026

It's half-term this week so NO REHEARSAL on Wednesday 28th October 👍. Enjoy your week off 😃.

24/10/2026

ARE YOU READY FOR HALF-TERM? I reckon WPO is 😉.

What is a rehearsal like, I hear you ask? 🤔

This week we were working on Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. All was going well, everyone watching the conductor 😃 until suddenly the oboist piped up 'I'm missing a line!' Well that stopped us in our tracks and a notorious cellist helpfully suggested 'Is the music up the right way?' 😲 Oboist continued shuffling music - 'I've found it, sorry' 🤣.

Off we started again, all going fine until a change in tempo...now beating in 4 instead of 2 and tempo change (we all know about tempo and watching the conductor). Cellist pipes up (not the notorious one, a very-well informed cellist) 'Why are you beating in 4?'....er because he is the conductor and that's his job? 🤔😲. 'We have triplets across 2 beats like that which makes it very tricky!' Discussions ensued. Conductor checked with violins who now have quavers hence beating in 4. Who knew Hansel and Gretel could be so contentious 🤣🤣.

Violins are now happy for conductor to beat in whatever makes the cellos happy saying 'Don't worry about us violins, we'll manage'. At this point Oboist is sitting quietly thinking hooray, my slight misdemeanor earlier is definitely now forgotten 🤣.

Rehearsals are always fun and this week was no exception with much friendly banter across the departments. On a serious note, it shows how WPO has grown together, made great respectful friendships and are comfortable questioning how the music is to be interpreted, played etc.

Bring on half-term, we've all worked really hard these past few weeks and are in need of a well-earned rest 🥳.

Enjoy your half-term too 😘🎶

23/10/2026

Music ensembles - take note of tempo definitions ⏱️.

'Rubato - Bet your sweet potatoes you are watching the conductor' 🤔.

Didn't we say a few days ago - WATCH THE CONDUCTOR!! 🤣🤣🤣.

21/10/2026

WELCOME to all our recent and new followers. We are delighted to have you on board 🥳.

If you are a musician wanting to join us to play regularly or maybe just dep for our concerts please do get in touch via our website, link in our bio, or comment below 🎻🎺🥁.

We rehearse in Woosehill, Wokingham, on Wednesday evenings 7.30 - 9.15 pm and are a very welcoming, friendly bunch 👋.

If you are interested in coming to our concerts, the next date for your diary is Saturday 13th February at All Saints Church, Wokingham in the evening 😃.

Keep following for regular updates 🎶.

19/10/2026

Cellos look out!! 😉

Bolero rehearsals could be getting more interesting 🤔🤣.

17/10/2026

Further work on Bolero this week and with so many instruments involved there was a lot of 'who has the sax cue?', 'who's playing the XYZ part?', 'where's the 3rd clarinet?' 😉.

And if we think we had trouble counting bars and keeping our place give a thought for the conductor?! 🤔 Never mind Watch The Conductor, look at the huge score they are watching 😃.

Big thanks to our amazing conductor who keeps us all together and gets the very best out of us 🙏.

15/10/2026

SAVE THE DATE .....🎺🎷🥁🥳

WOKINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 🎶

Next Concert: Saturday 13th February 2027, All Saints Church, Wokingham RG40 1TN.

Further details of programme and tickets to follow 👍

15/10/2026

Monday 12th October was International Bassoon Day - who knew 🥳, so in this week's rehearsal we had a chat to one of our bassoonists and asked them about their instrument 🤔.

The bassoon is a large woodwind instrument using a double reed (not to be confused with the oboe 😫) and has a complicated fi*****ng system 🙌.

For most modern German system bassoons there are 4 right thumb keys and an amazing 9 left thumb keys. That's a lot of thumb keys 👍. It seems it really helps if you have large hands 🙌.

Due to the size of a bassoon either a harness is worn or a seat strap used. Maybe the recorder player does have an easier life? Maybe not 😉. Does the bassoon get confused with the oboe💡.

Bassoonists, oboists, recorder players, let me know your thoughts🙏

Address

Windmill Primary School, Fernlea Drive

RG413DR

Opening Hours

19:30 - 21:15

Website

http://wokinghamphilharmonic.org/, https://wokinghamphilharmonic.org/safeguarding-policy, https://wokinghamphilharmonic.

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