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Founded in 1970, the orchestra is no longer very “new” but when Stephen Pettitt had the idea of forming a full-scale amateur symphony orchestra, there was the inevitable problem of what to call it. There had already been a “Tyneside Orchestra” so we added one word and the NTO was born.
Since then we
have more than
doubled in size
and now number
over seventy;
members come
from all walks
of life and the
age range extends
from students
to retired people.
We are all amateurs
so we play because
we want to – and
we welcome the
challenge of
playing a wide
range of great
works for full
orchestra. We
rehearse regularly
on Monday nights
and many of us
get together
socially after
rehearsals and
at other times
to play more
music.
The NTO has presented concerts at many venues throughout the region, from Alnwick to York, from Carlisle to Tynemouth, and further afield with concert tours to Norway. We now have a 'home' for our main concerts at the Royal Grammar School in Jesmond, although we continue to perform chamber concerts at smaller venues around the North East. The NTO has also provided musicians for a number of more diverse events including serenading runners at the finish line of the Great North Run in 2006.
Over the years we have performed with many soloists of international standing, something we all appreciate. The opportunity of accompanying such artists as Nigel Kennedy, Myung-Wha Chung, Emma Johnson, Julian Lloyd Weber, Malcolm Binns and - in the early days, Leon Goossens and Jack Brymer – does not come every day. We have also worked with players from the Northern Sinfonia, who have provided us all with extremely useful and interesting guidance and tips.
The NTO has occasional
vacancies in
some sections
of the orchestra
and anyone interested
is asked to
contact
us.
The New Tyneside Orchestra is a registered charity (number 508234) managed by a committee elected at the Annual General Meeting, which is held in October of each year.
The Committee members for 2007/2008 are as follows:-
Chairman Nick
Pears.
Secretary Rachael Leisk.
Treasurer Kirsty Pearson.
Ex Officio Stephen Pettitt ( principal conductor).
Ex Officio David Milner (assistant conductor).
Ex Officio John Pearce (associate conductor).
Ex Officio Ian
Reevley (leader).
Members:
Andrew Martin.
Kirsty McDowell.
Robert Taylor.
Tony Jarrett.
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