latest-news – St Albans Symphony Orchestra

Message from Principal Conductor Tom Hammond to our audience

On what would have been the last concert of our season today, Tom Hammond, our Principal Conductor, sends you a special message to thank you for your support this year. We hope that you are…

Covid-19 virus: Rehearsals suspended until further notice and May 9 concert cancelled

The SASO Committee is very sorry to announce that Wednesday and other rehearsals have been called-off until further notice. We also regret that our next concert of French music on Saturday May 9 in St…

Critic praises “superb” Elgar and “exciting” Walton at SASO’s March concert

Cellist Matthew Sharp’s moving performance of the Elgar concerto was “superb” according to Herts Advertiser critic John Manning, and “…one of the best solo live performances of the work I have ever heard.” But he…

‘Inspirational’ cellist Matthew Sharp returns to perform Elgar’s much-loved concerto

Passionate, hauntingly lyrical and profoundly sad, Sir Edward Elgar’s much-loved Cello Concerto is the featured work in St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s in St Saviour’s Church on Saturday 7 March (7.30pm). The great English composer’s wife,…

SASO New Year Concert makes the Viennese connection

Concert-goers around the world agree that New Year and Viennese music make an unbeatable combination – and St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s concert in the Cathedral on Wednesday 1st January 2020 (7pm) showcases works that happily…

WE’VE BEEN ON A BEAR HUNT! SASO’s children’s concerts a sell-out success.

SASO’s annual concerts for children on Sunday 17 November in St Saviour’s Church were a ‘growling’, sell-out success! We played Ian Stephen’s scrumptious score for We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, including (uh-oh) ‘a totally…

Sea Symphony concert “a triumph at the Cathedral”

The 2019 St Albans St Cecilia Festival Concert in St Albans Cathedral on October 12 was “a triumph at several levels”, according to John Manning, music critic of the Herts Advertiser. He thoroughly enjoyed the…

Ship ahoy! Massed choirs and SASO set sail for concert inspired by the sea

The sea in all its moods – from breezy beach holidays to storm-tossed ships on mighty oceans – provides the salt-sprayed theme for the St Albans St Cecilia Festival Concert taking place in the Cathedral…

SASO seeks biggest-ever audiences for a classic new season

St Albans Symphony Orchestra has plans to attract its biggest-ever audience for classical music in its 2019-2020 season, with three of its six concerts taking place in the city’s cathedral. The orchestra’s New Year…

Leader Jenny Wigram prepares to leave SASO after an amazing 40 years

SASO’s much-loved Leader, Jenny Wigram, is leaving SASO at the end of the current 2018-19 season. Here, she looks back on a remarkable 40 years with the orchestra, all but two of them in the…