Docklands Sinfonia
Encyclopedia
Docklands Sinfonia is a non-professional symphony orchestra in London
's Docklands. Since January 2009, the orchestra has been based at St Anne's Limehouse
near Canary Wharf
.
Alan West, Baron West of Spithead
. Docklands Sinfonia held its first rehearsal on Wednesday January 14 2009 at St Anne's Limehouse
. The orchestra's inaugural concert on Friday March 13 featured the world premieres of 'Machination 1' by British composer Andrew Keenan and 'The Sanctuary suite for Saxophone and Orchestra' by saxophonist Christian Forshaw
. Forshaw's orchestral adaptation of his 'Sanctuary' album also featured baroque soprano Elin Manahan Thomas
. The sell-out concert, which finished with Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, was met with a full standing ovation by the audience. Following the success of its inaugural concert, Docklands Sinfonia was asked to film for the BBC1 music series 'Clash'. The first episode of the programme was screened on July 7 2009. In November 2009, international cello virtuoso Leonard Elschenbroich, winner of the 2009 Leonard Bernstein award, performed the Dvorak cello concerto in B Minor with Docklands Sinfonia. For its first anniversary concert, Docklands Sinfonia performed Gustav Mahler's Symphony No 1 in D Minor. In July 2010, Docklands Sinfonia was rated as one of the top non-five non professional orchestras in London by Classical Music Magazine
.
Symphony Orchestra, has taught conducting at the Royal Academy of Music summer school and adjudicated the London College of Music’s Wind and Brass Competitions. Currently working at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama
, he is brass co-ordinator, professor of euphonium and conductor. In 2008, he designed the Trinity Guildhall euphonium diploma syllabus. Down has conducted members of both the London Symphony Orchestra
and Scottish Chamber Orchestra
in educational projects. He is also musical director of the Kew Wind Orchestra, which claims to be one of Britain's leading amateur wind orchestras. In April 2008, the orchestra was given a rare consistent achievement award for winning three successive gold awards at the National Concert Band Festival Finals. Down has conducted in the United Kingdom
’s major concert halls including the Royal Festival Hall
, the Barbican
, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Snape Maltings
and the Sage Gateshead. Down is also the musical director of Pioneer Brass - a professional ensemble featuring some of Britain's leading orchestral and West End players. Down says his grandfather, who was a trumpeter and a shipwright in the old docks, was his inspiration for setting up Docklands Sinfonia. The conductor, who was brought up in Grays
Essex, says his aim is to make the orchestra a 'major cultural force' in the Canary Wharf
area. In August 2010, Down founded the first Kew Music Festival in Kew, Surrey. He is now musical director of the annual festival.
at a reception to celebrate youth in the performing arts. The orchestra was joined by performers from the English National Ballet
, Royal Opera House
, Joe McElderry
, Ironik, Sara-Jane Skeete and Rumer
during the 30-minute performance based around the theme of Romeo and Juliet.
's orchestral composition 'Love The Earth' at the Royal Albert Hall
. The singer also conducted the orchestra in a second performance of the piece on Friday December 3rd in St Anne's, Limehouse.
remarked that the area would soon have its "own posh symphony orchestra to rival anything in the West End." The orchestra has also had repeated mentions on LBC 97.3
by presenters Nick Ferrari
and Andrew Pierce. On January 14 2009, Classical Music Magazine
ran a feature on Docklands Sinfonia entitled 'Anchors Away'. The magazine wrote: "It may not be the most propitious time to be launching a new orchestra, but conductor Spencer Down is tackling it with infectious bravado." On July 7 2009, Docklands Sinfonia made its first TV debut on the BBC1 series 'Clash'. It had been asked to film for the BBC programme just eight weeks after its first rehearsal. The BBC appearance prompted The Docklands newspaper to remark that the orchestra "now has the world at its feet". In July 2010, Docklands Sinfonia was ranked as one of London's top 5 non-professional orchestras by Classical Music magazine. Magazine critic Hannah Nepil commented “This ensemble has something that even some professional orchestras struggle to maintain, real joy in the music-making.”
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Docklands. Since January 2009, the orchestra has been based at St Anne's Limehouse
St Anne's Limehouse
St Anne's Limehouse is a Hawksmoor Anglican Church in Limehouse, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It was consecrated in 1730, one of the twelve churches built through the 1711 Act of Parliament.-History:...
near Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
.
History
Docklands Sinfonia was formed in January 2009 by conductor Spencer Down and is the only symphony orchestra based in London's Docklands. The orchestra, which is made up of professional musicians, music college students and amateurs, is self-funding. The orchestra's patron is the former head of the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Alan West, Baron West of Spithead
Alan West, Baron West of Spithead
Admiral Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB DSC PC was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the British Home Office with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown...
. Docklands Sinfonia held its first rehearsal on Wednesday January 14 2009 at St Anne's Limehouse
St Anne's Limehouse
St Anne's Limehouse is a Hawksmoor Anglican Church in Limehouse, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It was consecrated in 1730, one of the twelve churches built through the 1711 Act of Parliament.-History:...
. The orchestra's inaugural concert on Friday March 13 featured the world premieres of 'Machination 1' by British composer Andrew Keenan and 'The Sanctuary suite for Saxophone and Orchestra' by saxophonist Christian Forshaw
Christian Forshaw
Christian Forshaw is a British saxophone virtuoso and composer.Christian Forshaw comes from Yorkshire and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 1995 with distinction...
. Forshaw's orchestral adaptation of his 'Sanctuary' album also featured baroque soprano Elin Manahan Thomas
Elin Manahan Thomas
-Biography:Thomas was born in 1977 in Gorseinon near Swansea, the daughter of M. Wynn Thomas OBE, a Professor of Literature at Swansea University, and Karen Thomas. She was educated at the Welsh-speaking Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr in Gowerton near Swansea, and by the time she was fifteen was singing in the...
. The sell-out concert, which finished with Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, was met with a full standing ovation by the audience. Following the success of its inaugural concert, Docklands Sinfonia was asked to film for the BBC1 music series 'Clash'. The first episode of the programme was screened on July 7 2009. In November 2009, international cello virtuoso Leonard Elschenbroich, winner of the 2009 Leonard Bernstein award, performed the Dvorak cello concerto in B Minor with Docklands Sinfonia. For its first anniversary concert, Docklands Sinfonia performed Gustav Mahler's Symphony No 1 in D Minor. In July 2010, Docklands Sinfonia was rated as one of the top non-five non professional orchestras in London by Classical Music Magazine
Classical Music Magazine
Classical Music magazine is a trade magazine for the classical music profession. It champions those working in the UK classical music industry and has correspondents across Great Britain and in New York....
.
Conductor
Spencer Down is Docklands Sinfonia's conductor and founder. Spencer is Associate Conductor of the Junior Guildhall School of Music and DramaGuildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
Symphony Orchestra, has taught conducting at the Royal Academy of Music summer school and adjudicated the London College of Music’s Wind and Brass Competitions. Currently working at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
, he is brass co-ordinator, professor of euphonium and conductor. In 2008, he designed the Trinity Guildhall euphonium diploma syllabus. Down has conducted members of both the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
and Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is Scotland's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears...
in educational projects. He is also musical director of the Kew Wind Orchestra, which claims to be one of Britain's leading amateur wind orchestras. In April 2008, the orchestra was given a rare consistent achievement award for winning three successive gold awards at the National Concert Band Festival Finals. Down has conducted in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
’s major concert halls including the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
, the Barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Snape Maltings
Snape Maltings
Snape Maltings is part of Snape, Suffolk, U.K., best known for its concert hall, which is one of the main sites of the annual Aldeburgh Festival....
and the Sage Gateshead. Down is also the musical director of Pioneer Brass - a professional ensemble featuring some of Britain's leading orchestral and West End players. Down says his grandfather, who was a trumpeter and a shipwright in the old docks, was his inspiration for setting up Docklands Sinfonia. The conductor, who was brought up in Grays
Grays
Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes...
Essex, says his aim is to make the orchestra a 'major cultural force' in the Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
area. In August 2010, Down founded the first Kew Music Festival in Kew, Surrey. He is now musical director of the annual festival.
Buckingham Palace
In May 2011, Docklands Sinfonia performed for The Queen in the ballroom of Buckingham PalaceBuckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
at a reception to celebrate youth in the performing arts. The orchestra was joined by performers from the English National Ballet
English National Ballet
English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin and based at Markova House in South Kensington, London, England. Along with the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Scottish Ballet, it is one of the four major ballet companies in Great...
, Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Joe McElderry
Joe McElderry
Joseph "Joe" McElderry is an English singer and model. He won the sixth series of the ITV show The X Factor in 2009. His first single "The Climb" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Charts. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar, two...
, Ironik, Sara-Jane Skeete and Rumer
Rumer
Rumer may refer to:*Rumer , British singer*Rumer Willis , actress, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore*Rumer Godden , English author*Yuriy Rumer , Russian physicist also known as Georg Rumer...
during the 30-minute performance based around the theme of Romeo and Juliet.
Royal Albert Hall
On Friday 5th November 2010, the orchestra performed the world premiere of singer songwriter Imogen HeapImogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is a Grammy Award-winning English singer, composer and songwriter from Havering, Essex. She is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou and her solo albums, which she writes, produces, and mixes...
's orchestral composition 'Love The Earth' at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
. The singer also conducted the orchestra in a second performance of the piece on Friday December 3rd in St Anne's, Limehouse.
Press coverage
Docklands Sinfonia has attracted media interest. In the run-up to its formation in September 2008, The East London AdvertiserEast London Advertiser
The East London Advertiser is a weekly local newspaper in east London, England covering primarily the borough of Tower Hamlets. It was founded in 1866 and has been owned by Archant since 2003....
remarked that the area would soon have its "own posh symphony orchestra to rival anything in the West End." The orchestra has also had repeated mentions on LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
by presenters Nick Ferrari
Nick Ferrari
Nick Ferrari is a radio presenter who currently hosts the weekday breakfast show from 0700-1000 UTC on the London-based talk and phone-in radio station LBC 97.3. He also has a regular column in the Sunday Express and is a regular guest on The Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV1...
and Andrew Pierce. On January 14 2009, Classical Music Magazine
Classical Music Magazine
Classical Music magazine is a trade magazine for the classical music profession. It champions those working in the UK classical music industry and has correspondents across Great Britain and in New York....
ran a feature on Docklands Sinfonia entitled 'Anchors Away'. The magazine wrote: "It may not be the most propitious time to be launching a new orchestra, but conductor Spencer Down is tackling it with infectious bravado." On July 7 2009, Docklands Sinfonia made its first TV debut on the BBC1 series 'Clash'. It had been asked to film for the BBC programme just eight weeks after its first rehearsal. The BBC appearance prompted The Docklands newspaper to remark that the orchestra "now has the world at its feet". In July 2010, Docklands Sinfonia was ranked as one of London's top 5 non-professional orchestras by Classical Music magazine. Magazine critic Hannah Nepil commented “This ensemble has something that even some professional orchestras struggle to maintain, real joy in the music-making.”