Fulham Symphony Orchestra

@fso.org.uk

A big, ambitious amateur orchestra in west London. fso.org.uk

Join us for an evening of symphonic masterpieces celebrating the life of our former principal trumpet, Steve Hicks. Including a premiere by @ednesbit.bsky.social, Prokofiev's Symphony-Concerto performed by Paolo Baroni, and Steve's 'Your boundaries are the sky'. fso.org.uk/summer-2026/

Nesbit, Prokofiev, Hicks and Respighi – 20 June 2026

Edward Nesbit – Consolation and Joy (world premiere)Sergei Prokofiev – Symphony-Concerto for Cello and OrchestraStephen Hicks – Your boundaries are the skyOttorino Respighi &#8211…

fso.org.uk

We’re delighted to have organ soloist Hannah Gill performing with us on 22 March at Smith Square Hall. Born in Wales, Hannah was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and was a concerto finalist in the Texaco Young Musician of Wales....

Hannah Gill

Book now for our concert on 22 March 2025 at Smith Square Hall. fso.org.uk/spring-2025/ A rare chance to hear Tchaikovsky’s great Manfred Symphony, Jeanne Demessieux’s exuberant Poème for organ and orchestra, and Janáček’s Taras Bulba, an orchestral rhapsody inspired by a Cossack hero.

Fulham Symphony Orchestra – 22 March 2025 - Leoš Janáček – Taras Bulba, Jeanne Demessieux – Poème, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Manfred Symphony. Marc Dooley conductor Tom Evans leader Hannah Gill organ. 22 March 2025 7.30pm, Smith Square HallA rare chance to hear Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony, his most ambitious symphonic work, which explores the extreme drama of Byron’s poem of the same name.  Jeanne Demessieux was a celebrated virtuoso organist and a child prodigy. The exuberant Poème for organ and orchestra was one of her few orchestral compositions.  Written during World War I and inspired by the story of a Cossack hero, Leoš Janáček’s Taras Bulba combines poignantly beautiful folk-like themes with the composer’s distinctive and unconventional orchestration. Born in Wales, Hannah Gill was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and was a concerto finalist in the Texaco Young Musician of Wales. She has conducted and accompanied prize-winning choirs at both National and International Eisteddfod competitions. Previously the Organ Scholar at the Southbank Centre, she is now Organist at St Nicholas’ Church in Harpenden. She is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists and Co-Chair of the Society of Women Organists. Leoš Janáček – Taras Bulba Jeanne Demessieux – Poème Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Manfred Symphony  Marc Dooley conductor Tom Evans leader Hannah Gill organ  7.30pm, Smith Square Hall, London SW1P 3HF  Tickets £14, concessions £12, under-16s £9. Booking fees apply.

We have been devastated by the untimely death of our principal trumpet Steve Hicks. His glorious playing, enormous personality and total confidence inspired us all. We have not the words to describe our sense of loss, but all our love is with his wife Andrea and family.

Steve HicksSteve HicksSteve Hicks

We’ve made a fascinating discovery in the archives: newspaper cuttings announcing our very first concert in 1958! We knew very little about our early years, so these have thrown up some surprises… 🧵

Newspaper cuttings

Hello, BlueSky! 👋 We’re a big, ambitious amateur symphony orchestra based in west London. Our last concert featured birdsong in Rautavaara’s ‘Cantus Arcticus’, Lutosławski’s dazzling Fourth Symphony, the folk-inspired ‘Suita Rustica’ by Kaprálová, and Martinů’s big-hearted Fourth Symphony.

Orchestra rehearsal Viola players Concert flyer