LSO 2024-25 concerts

Revised 15/07/2024

 

Saturday November 16th 2024 – 7.30pm: Classical Heroes concert

Saturday December 7th 2024 – 6:30pm: Christmas Concert – with cathedral choristers

Sunday February 23rd 2025 – 3.00pm, De Montfort Hall: Braimah Kanneh-Mason plays Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto

Sunday May 11th 2025 – 3.00pm, De Montfort Hall: Brahms & Sibelius

Tour arrangements are being finalised – Krefeld May 24th to 28th 2025

 

Next season’s concert dates:

Saturday October 25th 2025: Verdi Requiem with Philarmonic Choir

Sunday November 23rd 2025: Borodin, Polovtsian dances; Saint-Saens, Piano Concerto No.5 (Egyptian); Rimsky Korsakov, Scheherazade

Saturday December 13th 2025: Christmas Concert

February 7th or 8th 2026: Peter and the Wolf / Dumbarton Oaks Family concert?

Sunday March 29th 2026: Shostakovitch, Festival Overture; Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No 2; Tchaikovsky, Symphony No 5

Saturday May 9th 2026: Greig, Symphonic Dances; Bernstein, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Rachmaninov, Symphonic Dances

June 27th or 28th 2026: Family concert – Paddington in Concert / prom type concert?

 

LSO rehearsals 2024-2025

Please be aware that there are no tea breaks during the Monday rehearsals

The full addresses for rehearsals are here:

• Judgemeadow Community College, Marydene Drive, Evington, Leicester, LE5 6HP
• Mayflower Church Hall, Ethyl Road, Leicester, LE5 5ND
• Cedars Academy Upper Hall called the Palmer Tomkinson Building (PTB) – Access via Wanlip Lane LE4 4GH. This is a new building on the right as you enter the Academy, or
• Cedars Academy Lower Hall also called the Main Hall, access and parking via the Stonehill Avenue entrance

And please look out for your LSO newsletter for further information.

 

Sunday 11/05/2025 

 

LSO rehearsals 2025-2026

Next season’s rehearsals:

Sunday September 7th 2025: AM Verdi Requiem PM November Concert

Sunday September 21st 2025: PM November Concert

Monday October 6th 2025: EVE String sectional, November Concert

Sunday October 19th 2025: AM Verdi Requiem PM Verdi Requiem

Saturday October 25th 2025: Verdi Requiem with Philarmonic Choir

Sunday November 9th 2025: AM November Concert (tutti) PM November Concert (tutti)

Sunday November 16th 2025: AM November Concert (strings) PM November Concert (tutti)

Sunday November 23rd 2025: Borodin, Polovtsian dances; Saint-Saens, Piano Concerto No.5 (Egyptian); Rimsky Korsakov, Scheherazade

Sunday December 7th 2025: AM Strings PM Tutti

Saturday December 13th 2025: Christmas Concert

Sunday January 11th 2026: AM February Concert PM March Concert

Sunday February 1st 2026: AM February Concert PM March Concert

February 7th or 8th 2026: Peter and the Wolf / Dumbarton Oaks Family concert?

Sunday February 22nd 2026: AM Winds & strings sectional PM Tutti

Sunday March 8th 2026: PM Tutti

Sunday March 22nd 2026: AM Tutti PM Tutti

Sunday March 29th 2026: Shostakovitch, Festival Overture; Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No 2; Tchaikovsky, Symphony No 5

Sunday April 12th 2026: AM Strings sectional PM Tutti

Sunday April 26th 2026: AM Winds & strings sectional PM Tutti

Sunday May 3rd 2026: AM Tutti PM Tutti

Friday May 8th 2026: EVE Tutti

Saturday May 9th 2026: Greig, Symphonic Dances; Bernstein, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Rachmaninov, Symphonic Dances

Sunday June 14th 2026: AM Strings sectional PM Tutti

June 27th or 28th 2026: Family concert – Paddington in Concert / prom type concert?

History

Welcome to the Leicester Symphony Orchestra

General Information

1. 1. Introduction
      The LSO was founded in 1922 by Doctor Malcolm Sargent (later Sir) with the aim of providing a high quality local orchestra. For more information on the history of LSO see our history page.
      The orchestra is a registered charity and limited company. It is a member of the UK national organisation supporting and championing voluntary music – ‘Making Music’, and Voluntary Arts England.

   2. Aims and objectives
      The orchestra aims to attract the best local players to perform a minimum of 3 concerts per year in De Montfort Hall Leicester, and occasional other concerts. We support high quality amateur music making through:

       

      • rehearsal and workshops
      • contracting high calibre professional conductors and concerto soloists
      • working with other local music groups and choirs to help develop their performance
   3. Finance
      The LSO is largely self-supporting with most income coming from:

       

      • players’ subscriptions
      • concert ticket sales
      • paid engagements

      From time to time we receive money from legacies, donations and grants.

   4. Governance
      The orchestra is a Company limited by Guarantee under the regulations of the Companies Acts. The legal documents are kept by the Chairperson. Every member of the orchestra is a member of the company, which is managed by its Council of Management (COM), elected by members at the Annual General Meeting.
   5. Equal Opportunities
   6. 1. The LSO is an equal opportunities organisation and complies with the Equality Act 2010. Discrimination on any grounds is not permitted. Membership fees are set at differentiated rates to encourage students, low waged and unemployed players to join. We use venues for rehearsals and concerts that comply with the standards for access.
         Concert tickets are offered at reduced rates to encourage attendance by children and to promote orchestral music to new audiences. Tickets in DMH are promoted to disabled people within the 2-4-1 scheme where disabled people can be accompanied by a free seat for their carer/helper.

Player’s information and membership rules

1. Membership
   1. 1. Membership of the orchestra is open to experienced instrumentalists and interested players should contact the LSO using the contact form on the website in the first instance. If we do not have a vacancy for your instrument at that time contact details names will be held on file and individuals may be invited to join us for special events or on a one-off basis.
      2.  Section Leader vacancies will be advertised on the LSO website, using social media and through contacts with music colleges, individuals, schools and other organisations. A closing date will be specified and auditions will take place using LSO rehearsals and playing opportunities with the orchestra where possible.
      3. Other players will sit beside the leader of their section during a rehearsal for assessment of their orchestral playing.
      4.  Following an opportunity to play with us all new members are referred to the COM for approval.
      5. Once approved new members must complete an application form that is also the formal company registration and commits each member to pay a sum of up to £10.00 in the unlikely event that the orchestra becomes insolvent. Members must also pay their subscriptions – see below. Members who are under 18 will also be required to complete the LSO’s parental consent form.
      6. The COM has the power to terminate any membership, for example if playing standard falls short of that required or a member’s behaviour is considered to be inappropriate.
      7. The COM also agrees special awards and conditions for members who provide outstanding service to the orchestra through their playing or/and on the COM.
2. Subscriptions
   1. 1. Every member pays an annual subscription. Subscription fees are proposed by the COM and approved by members at the AGM.
      2. Subscriptions are due from the beginning of the financial year (July 1st) and normally collected during the first rehearsals of the season and must be paid by the first concert of the season. See separate document for rates and payment methods.
      3. Members who have not paid their subscriptions by the date of the first concert of each season may be replaced at subsequent concerts.
3. Rehearsals
   1. 1. There are usually 5/6 tutti rehearsals, plus sectional rehearsals before each DMH concert. Rehearsals are a mix of Sundays and Monday evenings. Other concerts and rehearsals are also organised as required.
      2. Any member who is unable to play in a concert or rehearsal should tell their section leader as soon as possible and where appropriate they may be asked to arrange for a deputy to cover their part (wind, percussion and brass in particular).
      3. Players should come to rehearsal even if they are not playing in a specific concert. This helps us to build the orchestra identity and maintain our playing standards together.
      4. Members who regularly miss rehearsals without notice may have their places filled and their membership terminated.
      5. Guest players can be invited to play with the orchestra with the agreement of the Conductor and section leader and in line with player’s notified absence (see 3b. above).
      6. Members are expected to practise parts as necessary in advance of rehearsal, and during rehearsal to observe directions given by the Conductor, keeping talking to a minimum.
      7. Players should provide their own music stands for rehearsals and concerts.
      8. Visitors may come and listen to rehearsals with the agreement of the Conductor or Chairperson.
4. Section leaders
   1. 1. Section leaders will ensure all players for their sections are selected in accordance with the membership rules.
      2. They will arrange for extra players and deputies to cover parts as necessary and in consultation with the Chairperson/COM.
      3. They will arrange for the distribution of parts to their section players and for bowing etc to be added.
      4. They are responsible for working with the COM and the Conductor to contribute to the standard of orchestral playing.
5. Music and Concert Dress
   1. 1. 1. The orchestra will provide all scores and parts.
         2. Members are responsible for ensuring that all music taken home for rehearsal is available for each rehearsal.
         3. All music must be returned to the librarian immediately following each concert.
         4. Members may be asked to pay for parts, which are not returned by them, or parts that have been damaged whilst in their care.
         5. Concert dress is long black for women and, either DJ’s with white shirts, or formal black shirts for men.
6. Ticket sales
   All members should do their best to sell tickets for every concert. LSO members have access to a discount code for their use for sales of De Montfort Hall tickets. Other promotional offers are also made available from time to time to encourage new audiences.
7. Child protection/vulnerable adults
   The COM takes its responsibility for safe-guarding children and vulnerable adults seriously and ensures that players under the age of 18 have parental permission to join the orchestra. See our separate policy on Safeguarding.
8. Data protection
   Personal Information on registration forms is supplied for use by the orchestra only and not passed on to any third-party organisations.

Leicester Symphony Orchestra acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and recognises that the welfare and interests of children and young people are paramount in all circumstances.
Click to view our Duty of Care Policy for children and young people.

Please view our latest Covid risk update June 2021.

Please view our LSO Safeguarding Policy 2024.

Leicester Symphony Orchestra Subscriptions

On joining the orchestra members are required to pay an annual subscription. As an incentive to pay as early as possible in the season the rate goes up after the first main concert:

Rate	Payment before first main Autumn concert	Payment after first main Autumn concert
Full rate	£85.00	£90.00
Concessionary rate (e.g. unemployed, low income)	£55.00	£60.00
Student rate	£30.00	£35.00

For existing members, or new members joining at the start of the season, please note that complete payment is due even if you are not available for all concerts. If you are having difficulty with payment for any reason, or join the orchestra part way through the season, please don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss the rates.

Payment

Payment can be made in one of the following ways (listed in order of preference):

1. On-line bank transfer can be made using the following details (please notify me by email if you use this method; ann.manley@siemens.com):

   Account name: Leicester Symphony Orchestra

   Sort code: 09-01-53

   Account number: 35794483

   (NB the name of the account holder will appear in the transaction automatically, please put “LSO Subs” in the reference field if there is one)

2. Cash can be paid to me at rehearsals
3. Cheques shall be made payable to Leicester Symphony Orchestra and passed to me at rehearsal, or posted to:

   Ann Manley, 12 The Meadows, Long Bennington, Newark, Notts, NG23 5EL

Gift Aid

Leicester Symphony Orchestra is a registered charity. If you have not yet filled in a Gift Aid form, and you are currently a UK tax payer (or have been when paying LSO subscriptions at any time during the last 4 years), please complete the one found on gov.uk. (The form can be submitted by email, as an original signature is not actually required).
Gift Aid can be claimed retrospectively for up to 4 years, and the form you fill in now will be valid as long as you remain a tax payer. It is not necessary to fill in a new form each year.

New Members

New members should complete an application form, which is available on the LSO website, from me at rehearsals or by email. This information will not be used for any purpose other than LSO business without your permission.

Ticket Sales

Members of the orchestra are encouraged to sell as many tickets as possible, and provided they are purchased directly through the orchestra will receive a discount on the face value of tickets sold to adults. Tickets can be ordered from Mike Manley via our contact form or at rehearsals.

Yours sincerely

Ann Manley
Membership Secretary