Information for Players
Last updated 17th November 2025: added future concert dates
CONTENTS
Future Concerts & Programmes
Rehearsals
Subscriptions
Rehearsal venues
Concert venues
Selling concert tickets
Concert dress
Noticeboard
Management of the Orchestra
Players privacy statement
Future Concerts & Programmes
Sunday 23rd November 2025 - Oxford Town Hall
Saturday 14th March 2026 - Oxford Town Hall
Saturday 20th June 2026 - Sheldonian
Saturday 14th November 2026 - Oxford Town Hall
Saturday 13th March 2027 - Oxford Town Hall
Saturday 19th June 2027 - Sheldonian
Rehearsals
Autumn 2025
Sunday 23rd November 2025 - Oxford Town Hall
Rehearsal schedule (or download a pdf)
Rehearsals are 7.15-9.45pm on Tuesdays at Greyfriars School, except where indicated. Strings are required at all rehearsals; other players, as indicated (see below).
Please note that there is strictly no eating or drinking in the (recently carpeted) room at Greyfriars. No flasks, no open containers that can spill. Water in a capped bottle is ok. This is part of the conditions of us hiring the room.
The schedule for the Autumn rehearsals is as follows. If you are unable to attend any rehearsal, be sure to inform your section leader, and if for any reason you anticipate being absent more than two rehearsals for any concert please notify your section leader as far in advance as possible.
| Tue 16th September | 7.15pm Rachmaninov 1
7.45pm Tchaikovsky 1, 2 9pm Stravinsky 1 |
23*22 4000
3*222 4000 2*2*22 4000 |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 23rd September | no rehearsal |
|
| Tue 30th September | 7.15pm Rachmaninov 3
7.45pm Tchaikovsky 3, 4 9pm Stravinsky 2 |
3*3*22 4000
3*222 4000 2*2*22 4000 |
| Tue 7th October | 7.15pm Tchaikovsky 1, 3
8.45pm Stravinsky 3 9.30pm Rachmaninov 2 |
3*222 4000
2*2*22 4000 2222 4000 |
| Tue 14th October | Sectionals
|
Violins & Violas (MR)
Cellos (JJ) Woodwinds (GC) Horns (TA) |
| Tue 21st October | 7.15pm Tchaikovsky 2, 4
8.45pm Rachmaninov 3, 1 |
3*222 4000
3*3*22 4000 |
| Tue 28th October | no rehearsal (half term)
|
|
| Tue 4th November
at Abingdon School |
Rachmaninov with soloist (mvts 3, 1 then 2)
In the Charles Maude Room: please maximally lift-share as parking is limited. |
3*3*22 4200 |
| Tue 11th November | 7.15pm Tchaikovsky
9pm Stravinsky |
3*222 4231 timps
2*2*22 4231 timps |
| Tue 18th November | 7.15pm Tchaikovsky
9pm Stravinsky |
3*222 4231 timps perc×2
2*2*22 4231 timps perc×1 |
| Sun 23rd November |
3.30pm Tchaikovsky
4.30pm Stravinsky
5pm Rachmaninov
- 6pm 7.30pm Concert |
Tutti as required |
| Tue 2nd December | AGM &
Concerto play-day |
tbc |
Early 2026
The outline schedule for the rehearsals in early 2026 is as follows:
Tue 13th Jan - first rehearsal
Tue 3rd Feb - sectionals
Tue 17th Feb - half term (no rehearsal)
Tue 10th Mar - last rehearsal
Sat 14th Mar - concert
Subscriptions
One of the contributions that players make to the running of the orchestra is the payment of an annual or termly subscription. The 2025/26 rates remain the same as last year, at:
Annual fee: £192, or three payments of £64 per term
Students and unwaged: £22 per term.
Players who feel able to do so are invited to pay at a higher rate or make additional contributions, by topping up their payments or by sponsoring a particular activity.
Subscription payments, due at first rehearsal of term, may be made by bank transfer, cheque or cash. Rates are reviewed annually. If you are able to pay your subscription for the year all in one go, then please do so, as it really helps to cut down the time committee members have to spend processing them.
If you are UK tax payer, the orchestra (being a registered charity) can claim back tax
you have paid on your subscription payments. This generates significant extra income
for the orchestra. So, if you pay tax, please ensure that you complete a Gift Aid declaration form
(
or
)
and return it to the treasurer, Andrew Rendell ((osotreasurer@gmail.com)).
Exceptionally, where a player has circumstances of particular personal hardship, a case for temporary reduction of fees can be considered by the Chair of the orchestra.
Rehearsal venues
Greyfriars School (OX4 3DR)
The school is on Cricket Road, Oxford, and we rehearse in the Main Hall.
Google map
School site plan (pdf)
Please note that there is a LTN (Low Traffic Neighbourhoods)
in the Cowley/Florence Park area and access to the school can
only be made from the Cowley Rd side. Cornwallis Rd, Rymer's Lane &
Little Hay Rd are blocked and are no-through roads.
Access to the School is via a one-way loop road off Cricket Road. By car from Cowley Road,
turn into Shelley Road. Take the second left turn into Cricket Road and then the first right into the School.
There is ample parking but only vehicles carrying very heavy instruments (i.e. harps, timpani and other large percussion instruments) may be brought along the pedestrian walkway to the Main Hall (c.150 metres) for unloading and loading.
During rehearsals vehicles must be returned to car park spaces.
Please depart promptly after rehearsals as the external gates are locked at 10:15pm.
Also note that the whole school site is a 'no smoking' area and that the
contract to use the premises is immediately cancelled for a hiring organisation
if anyone associated with it is found smoking on site.
We have received a firm reminder from Greyfriar's about which area of the car park the Orchestra is expected to occupy on Tuesday evenings; please could you kindly look at the map (below), and be sure to park within the designated area (the L-shaped area outlined in yellow), & not in the reserved area (the rectangle outlined in red) which belongs to a different school:
Abingdon School (OX14 1DE)
Maps and directions
Campus plan showing location of the Charles Maude Room (number 10 on the plan).
No eating or drinking is allowed in the hall.
Abingdon School is only very rarely used for rehearsals. Bus services from Oxford are quick and convenient (X1, X2, X3 and many more services stop close by at Stratton Way). Those travelling by car should use the Visitor Parking opposite Reception on Park Road, but please share lifts as we have only a few parking spaces available. Players bringing double basses or timps may park in designated spaces areas adjacent to the school buildings. Entry to Charles Maude Room (10 on campus plan) is via door at east end of Big School. Vehicles parked in the privately owned roads around the school are liable to be clamped at any time.
Concert venues
Oxford Town Hall: St Aldates, Oxford OX1 1BX Directions, Map, Travel and Parking information
Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford: Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AZ Map and directions
Noticeboard
The committee runs a OSO noticeboard where adverts may be placed with regards to further musical opportunities.
Selling concert tickets
Players are expected to take an active part in promoting concerts and selling tickets to friends and family. Tickets sold in advance by players are available at discounted rates from the standard ticket price of £18.
Management of the Orchestra
A committee of orchestra members meets three times a year to discuss and agree plans. Speak to any one of us on the committee if there is something you feel we should consider or if you'd like to help in some way with running the orchestra. If you've got thoughts about repertoire or music you feel would be good to play, do talk to Robert Max.
Orchestra members have an annual general meeting in November or December when new committee members are elected and ideas can be discussed by everyone. The present committee members are:
David Patrick - Chair (chair@oxfordsymphonyorchestra.org.uk)
Lorna Softley - Secretary
Andrew Rendell - Treasurer (osotreasurer@gmail.com)
Grace Lane - Membership Secretary (membership@oxfordsymphonyorchestra.org.uk)
Dani McNeil - Librarian
Jessica Qiao - Concert Manager
Helen Kidd - Marketing and Publicity
Matthias Winkel - Production Company
Karen Bendall - Social Media
Dominic Knight
Sally Prime
Dominic Wilkinson
Robert Max - Musical Director (in attendance)
Mariette Richter - Leader (in attendance)
Other roles include:
Sharon Curtis - Website (website@oxfordsymphonyorchestra.org.uk)
Paul Johnson - Programmes
Catherine Hartley - Padlet notices
Players' Privacy Statement
Why do we need your data ? We need to collect and store some details about you so that we can inform you about orchestra matters and organise and promote our activities. We will not use your data for any other purpose without your consent. We will never give it to third parties and if another player asks for your contact details we will only ever share them with your consent.
We only collect the data we need This may include, your name, email address, payment and Gift Aid information, phone number, postal address, bank details, photographic/video images. We review what data we have on members every two years and remove it if we no longer need it. If you leave the group, we’ll make sure we stop using and/or delete any data we don’t need to keep (e.g. for financial reporting).
Queries and updating/removal of data At any time you can ask to view, update or correct any data we hold on you. You can also ask that we stop using your data or that we erase it. To request any of these, please contact the Chair of the orchestra.
By playing in Oxford Symphony Orchestra you acknowledge and agree to use of your data in accordance with this Privacy Statement.
