Coventry City of Culture Orchestra

The Coventry City of Culture Orchestra was formed in 2021 and received its initial funding from the Coventry and Nuneaton Methodist circuit. In celebration of Coventry becoming the City of Culture, Seb Farrall was appointed as one of four ‘Artists in Residence’ at the Methodist Central Hall in Coventry. His idea was to celebrate community music-making in Coventry by forming a brand-new

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The Coventry City of Culture Orchestra was formed in 2021 and received its initial funding from the Coventry and Nuneaton Methodist circuit. In celebration of Coventry becoming the City of Culture, Seb Farrall was appointed as one of four ‘Artists in Residence’ at the Methodist Central Hall in Coventry. His idea was to celebrate community music-making in Coventry by forming a brand-new symphony orchestra with a difference. He welcomed not just polished musicians, but also those who hadn’t played recently. To be wholly inclusive, he didn’t put any limits on the number of instruments in each section and welcomed players of instruments that you wouldn’t normally find in an orchestra (saxophones, bass guitar and harmonium!) This has made balance and repertoire choices somewhat of a challenge, but one that can hopefully continue to be tackled with enthusiasm!

Musicians from all over Coventry and Warwickshire dusted off their instruments and applied for membership. The response was phenomenal! The year ended with a sell-out celebration concert featuring the orchestra and a specially formed Festival Chorus. Following the City of Culture celebrations, the funding ended, but the enthusiasm of the orchestra remained so great that the decision was made to continue as a self-funding ensemble. The Central Hall continues to be very supportive, helping with resources and providing a base for rehearsals. In return, the orchestra leads two of the church’s services each year, in addition to their two main orchestral concerts.

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