“MSO’s back” with an exciting series of concerts in prospect. Our international solo line-up includes three favourite young artists, the brilliant French oboist Olivier Stankiewicz, British cellist Maxim Calver and New Zealand-born violinist Benjamin Baker, who’s returning to MSO for a fourth time. There’s also another superb violinist, the Japanese-American Mayumi Kanagawa, and a “rising star” Hungarian pianist, Daniel Lebhardt. Their repertoire spans over 150 years, with popular concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, Dvořák, Bruch and Rachmaninov.
MSO will be busy, playing wonderfully diverse musical styles from Sir Malcolm Arnold and Vaughan Williams, back through Sibelius, César Franck and Brahms, to Balakirev, Mendelssohn, Rossini and Mozart.
Truly I think there’s “something for everyone” this season. We’re all greatly looking forward to making music together again, and rest assured, if there are ongoing Covid cancellations you’ll be entitled to a refund. So, please buy your season tickets with confidence - still excellent value - and help us by spreading the word of our concerts far and wide.
For further information about Brian Wright visit brianwright.co.uk
Click here to download our brochure
Maxim Calver
Cello
Balakirev - Overture on Russian Themes
Dvořák - Cello Concerto
Franck - Symphony in D Minor
Maxim Calver is one of our most outstanding young cellists. He was a finalist in BBC Young Musician in 2018 and first played with MSO in 2019. For his return he plays Dvořák’s great Cello Concerto. Elsewhere we’ve a rare outing for Balakirev’s splendid Overture on Russian Themes. Two of them will be very familiar to those of you who know your Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky. César Franck’s well-loved Symphony completes the bill with abundant energy and suave tunes in equal measure.
Click here to download a flyer for this concertMayumi Kanagawa
Violin
Beethoven - Overture, Coriolan
Bruch - Violin Concerto No.1
Mendelssohn - Symphony No.3 “Scottish”
A prizewinner at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 2019, the brilliant Japanese-American violinist Mayumi Kanagawa joins us for Bruch’s everpopular Violin Concerto. Beethoven’s powerful Coriolan Overture sets the scene, while Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony completes a delightful programme. The opening theme came to Mendelssohn when he visited the ruined Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, while others were influenced by the tangy rhythms of Scottish folk music.
Click here to download a review of this concertOlivier Stankiewicz
Oboe
Rossini - Overture, The Italian Girl in Algiers
Mozart - Oboe Concerto, K.314
Brahms - Serenade No.1
Another delightful concert! The panache of Rossini’s Italian Girl in Algiers Overture heralds sheer elegance in Mozart’s Oboe Concerto. Our soloist is the outstanding French oboist, Olivier Stankiewicz, co-principal of the London Symphony Orchestra, who last played with us in 2017. Brahms first thought of calling his 1st Serenade a Symphony, but eventually decided his ideas were rather too lightweight for that title. In truth, its six charming movements combine elements of both Suite and Symphony, along with a lovely sense of chamber music.
Click here to download a flyer for this concertBenjamin Baker
Violin
Mozart - Overture, The Magic Flute
Beethoven - Violin Concerto
Vaughan Williams - Symphony No.5
A warm welcome back to the fine violinist Benjamin Baker for his fourth visit to MSO. He’s playing one of the pinnacles of the repertoire, Beethoven’s magnificent Violin Concerto. There are strong contrasts either side with the classical energy of Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture and the lateromantic poetry of Vaughan Williams’ Fifth Symphony. Written in the midst of World War 2, it struck an immediate chord with the audience. Sir Adrian Boult wrote: “Its serene loveliness is completely satisfying and shows, as only music can, what we must work for when this madness is over.
Click here to download a flyer for this concertDaniel Lebhardt
Piano
Arnold - Overture, Tam O’Shanter
Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No.2
Sibelius - Symphony No.2
The “rising star” Hungarian pianist, Daniel Lebhardt, plays Rachmaninov’s famous 2nd Piano Concerto. Daniel has recently recorded acclaimed CDs of Schubert for Naxos and Bartok for Decca. We open with Sir Malcolm Arnold’s ebullient Tam O’Shanter Overture - after the poem by Robert Burns - telling the drunken adventures of a Scottish farmer. Sibelius’ dramatic 2nd Symphony is justifiably popular. Heroic and tender by turns, it epitomises Finland’s long struggle for independence.
Click here to download a flyer for this concertSteve Migden presents Free Pre-concert talks before each concert from 6.40-7.10pm
You can download our 2021/22 Concert brochure by clicking here.
If you drop us an email to [email protected] we will keep you in touch with all our news.
All our concerts are held in Mote Hall Mote Leisure Centre, Maidstone, ME15 7RN.
Wheelchairs can be accommodated in certain areas of the hall. A number of reserved car parking spaces are available for visitors with disabilities. The bar is open before and after the concerts, and during the interval. Interval drinks may be pre-ordered Refreshments are available in the bar foyer
Please note that Maidstone Leisure Centre (Mote Hall) have installed a vehicle number plate recognition system in the car park. However, we have arranged for the system to be TURNED OFF AT 5.30pm prior to each of our concerts. Therefore, please ignore all signage and park as normal, without registering your vehicle’s number plate.
From September, you will be able to click here to buy tickets online
Maidstone Symphony Orchestra performs at Mote Hall, in Mote Park, Maidstone, which has a seating capacity of approximately 900. Concerts start at 7.30pm, with Free pre-concert talks presented by Steve Migden from 6.40pm to 7.10pm. Current Season Ticket Holders save up to 20% by buying a season ticket for all concerts. HALF PRICE FOR NEW SEASON TICKET SUBSCRIBERS! Students £5 and FREE for under 18s. You can book tickets for individual concerts online, by phone, or buy tickets at the door. Click here for more information on buying tickets.
Under the direction of its acclaimed and popular conductor, Brian Wright, Maidstone Symphony Orchestra is regarded as one of the UK's finest "community" orchestras. It was formed in 1910 as Maidstone Orchestral Society, still the title of the concert promoting organisation.
Today MSO is a superbly well-balanced mix of local professionals and ex-professionals, music teachers and excellent amateur players who come together regularly on a voluntary basis to produce concerts of a professional standard. This entails great commitment by the players, many of whom travel from all over Kent, and beyond, to attend MSO's weekly Thursday evening rehearsals.
The MOS is a registered charity number 1163384.
Brian Wright has been Music Director and Conductor of Maidstone Symphony Orchestra since 1990.
Brian studied as a Gulbenkian scholar in London and Munich. He won major prizes in conducting competitions at La Scala, Milan and with the London Symphony Orchestra. He was Assistant Conductor to the LSO and then Associate Conductor to the BBC, winning acclaim for performances at the Proms. Brian has conducted all the UK orchestras, toured in Europe with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and in Europe and China with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been a guest conductor in almost 20 countries.
Andrew (Andy) Laing started learning the violin when he was 5, and by the age of 16 was appointed leader of the National String Orchestra of Scotland. He gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music, winning numerous prizes and scholarships. Andy was appointed sub-leader of the BBC Radio Orchestra, then Leader of the London City Ballet Orchestra. In the '90s, he spent much time on stage at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he met his wife, Rachel, also a professional violinist. Andy is a keen amateur astronomer, and if music had not been his first love, it is entirely possible that a career involving the stars may have followed!
General Secretary - Lyn Parker,
Treasurer - Harriet Finch,
Ticketing - Nicci Whittaker.
PLAYER REPRESENTATIVES:
David Montague and Angela Migden
SUBSCRIBER REPRESENTATIVES:
Peter Hart, John Horne
CO-OPTED MEMBERS:
EX-OFFICIO:
John Lill CBE (President),
Janet Ash (Vice-President),
David King (Vice-President),
Steve Migden (Vice-President),
Brian Wright (Conductor & Music Director),
Richard Ashby (Chairman Friends of MOS)
The Friends of Maidstone Orchestral Society are our financial lifeline.
The Friends help to bridge the gap between the price of the tickets and the actual cost of the concerts. We would love you to join them and help the orchestra continue to perform its excellent season of concerts. The Friends are chaired by Richard Ashby.
If you would like to know more about the Friends please contact them email at [email protected]
The Kent Messenger described MSO's players as "A fantastically loyal group of players with amazing abilities." Coming from all over Kent, they are recognised for all giving of their time unstintingly with more than 23 hours of rehearsal for each concert.
Join Us
Rehearsals
Notices
We would love to hear from you.
Maidstone, Kent