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"The Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia (HRS) is one of only four recorder orchestras regularly rehearsing and performing in the UK. It owes it's origins to The Old Town Hall Consort. The addition of basses, great bass and contrabass to this rather large ensemble (it was never a one-to-a-part consort) allowed it to develop into a fully fledged orchestra with instruments ranging from the tiny sopranino to the man-sized contrabass over six-feet tall. In recognition of this changed character, the name Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia was adopted in late 1995 and the HRS Committee established shortly afterwards. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 30, 2008 | Hits: 320

"Helen Hooker studied the recorder at Trinity College of Music under Philip Thorby, graduating in 1993 with a first class degree and the Post-Graduate Certificate in performance with distinction. She now combines performing on the recorder with teaching the instrument.

Helen regularly teaches on residential courses for players of all ages, including the Recorder Summer School, of which she is Chairman. Helen has also tutored on the Northern Recorder Course and the Irish Recorder and Viol Course. She directed recorder courses at The Old Rectory, Fittleworth from 1998 until the College closed in 2002 and now directs weekend recorder courses at West Dean College. Helen also tutors on weekend recorder courses at Dillington House in Somerset and Belstead House in Suffolk.

Helen is a visiting conductor and Musical Advisor to the Society of Recorder Players, regularly conducting playing days,pastoral visits and workshops for SRP branches throughout the country. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 17, 2008 | Hits: 361

"Kathryn Bennetts and Peter Bowman have performed throughout the UK, in Germany, Norway, Estonia and the United States and have broadcast for TVS, Classic FM, BBC Radio 3, Lyric FM Dublin, Radio Netherlands and Deutschland Radio.

In 1998 "The Quarter Tone Recorder Manual" (Edition Moeck No. 2084) was published. The Quarter Tone Recorder Manual is an introduction to quarter-tonality on the recorder through a series of graded studies and compositions written by Bennetts and Bowman in collaboration with composer Donald Bousted.

Their CD recording of Bousted's A Journey Among Travellers and their most recent CD, Flights of Fancy, have received wide critical acclaim." Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 11, 2008 | Hits: 449

" The London Recorder Orchestra usually has 30-40 members but always welcomes new players. Prospective members should have a good standard of playing and sight-reading and be prepared to play any of the usual sizes of recorder (descant, treble, tenor or bass) as required. Players of larger instruments (great bass and contrabass recorders) are particularly welcome. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 30, 2008 | Hits: 421

"In January 1981 the Manchester Recorder orchestra was founded by Dennis Bamforth, and this year we are Celebrating 25 years. Rehearsal is normally last saturday in each month (see members information page for details). Players are mainly from the Greater Manchester conurbation but as many as a fifth of the sixty plus players travel long distances to take part. The instrumentation of the group is 2 Sopraninos, 8 Descants, 12 Trebles, 12 Tenors, 12 Basses, 10 Great Basses and 6 Contra Basses. The descants, trebles and tenors are further divided into two sections each; basses are also divided occasionally. Each section has a principal, responsible for any solo work that comes along. Since 1982 the Orchestra has given regular public concerts. In 1986 we gave our first of the annual concerts at the Royal Northern College of Music. There is a policy of playing by invitation at various other venues. These have included concerts in Bradford, Buxton, Coventry, Stretford, Manchester Cathedral, Salvation Army Church at Sale, and for the Heptonstall Festival of Music. The orchestra also gives an annual concert in Stretford in St Matthew's Hall which is our rehearsal venue. Each year a further concert is given for a charitable fund. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 30, 2008 | Hits: 380

" The Society of Recorder Players was inaugurated on 7 October 1937 by Max and Stephanie Champion together with Carl Dolmetsch and Edgar Hunt. It was at first London based although there were groups meeting at all sorts of strange places around the country. After the War the branch system started and first off the ground was Manchester, when on 10 June 1947 Professor Ross Waller and Rev. F. F. Rigby met with about 50 enthusiastic players at Holly Royde College, an outpost of Manchester University Extra-mural Department. Ross Waller was elected President, Mr. Rigby chairman, Richard Hall Musical Director and Miss Edith Middleton was the first secretary. The first playing meeting was held at Holly Royde on 12 Sept.1947 So we are now 50 year's old, rather to our surprise we have to confess! In fact we are indebted to Miss Enid Hunt who mentioned in a recent letter that Bristol branch were celebrating their 50th birthday next February and that we had just beaten them to it. We thought that in default of a formal celebration a brief history of the branch might be of interest to members. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 30, 2008 | Hits: 389

"The National Youth Recorder Orchestra gave its inaugural concert in June 2002 with 60 auditioned young players from the British Isles under the batons of Dennis Bamforth, Colin Martin and Colin Touchin. The Society of Recorder Players, at the suggestion of Colin Touchin, launched the Orchestra with the help of a legacy from the late Arthur Ingram, a former Treasurer of the Society. This organisation celebrated its 65th birthday in 2002, and continues to exist to promote the instrument and its repertoire. The National Youth Recorder Orchestras are promoted by the society to demonstrate the highest quality of youth orchestral performance and its equivalence to other national instrumental youth orchestras.

Since 2002 NYRO courses have taken place every year with concerts given in London, Kendal, Street (Somerset) and The Sage, Gateshead with the standard of auditioned players rising, and the repertoire performed including both original compositions and arrangements. During the weeklong intensive course, players have the opportunity to benefit from expert tuition covering all aspects of technique and interpretation during sectional and orchestral rehearsal, from the conductors and music tutors.

With the ensemble standard rising, in 2005 the orchestra expanded into two ensembles: a training orchestra (NYTRO) was established to feed directly into NYRO. In 2006, the orchestra was branded with a new logo as the National Youth Recorder Orchestras, incorporating both the National Youth Recorder Orchestra and the National Youth Training Recorder Orchestra. In 2007, Blockwork was formed: a new one-to-a-part ensemble by invitation only. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 02, 2008 | Hits: 437

"The North East Recorder Orchestra (NERCO) was formed in January 2004 to enable recorder players in the North East of England to rehearse and perform some of the quite large repertoire that is now available for recorder orchestras. At present it has some 30 members and involves the full range of recorders from sopranino down to contrabass.

Meetings are normally held on the 4th Saturday in each month (no meeting in August) in the Hall of Christchurch, Shieldfield, Newcastle upon Tyne (directions), from 10am to 1pm . This is the same venue as used by the Newcastle Society of Recorder Players. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 17, 2008 | Hits: 509

“Pamela Thorby is unique amongst British recorder players in the breadth and variety of her work, having been involved in an amazing number of diverse recordings and concert projects to date.

Her musicianship has led her to be in demand as soloist, chamber musician, session player, orchestral principal and teacher.”

 Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 13, 2009 | Hits: 410

"The Peregrine Recorder Orchestra is a friendly family of some 20 recorder players. Meetings are held regularly every 2 weeks on Thursday evenings at Ickwell Village Hall, Bedfordshire, between 8 pm and 10 pm, with a coffee break included.

Most concerts result from invitations by various charitable organisations in the Mid Beds area, but occasionally invitations come from further afield. A recorder orchestra should not be confused with the usual recorder group or ensemble. Contrasting effects can be obtained by the use of different numbers of players on parts. Sometimes a solo player is required on a particular part, sometimes 2 players, and sometimes a number of players all on the same part. This is an added challenge to general ensemble playing. The members of the orchestra come from a wide area including Northampton, St Neots, Biggleswade, Bedford, Letchworth, Ashwell, Oakley and Luton. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 02, 2008 | Hits: 326

“Musical Director and founder of the world-renowned ensembles New London Consort and Musicians of the Globe, Philip Pickett is considered one of today's most eminent advocates of period performance. For the past 10 years or so he has also embarked on a flourishing new career as guest conductor, leading modern symphony and chamber orchestras as well as opera companies in Classical, Romantic and Baroque repertoires.

Philip Pickett began his musical career as a trumpeter before becoming one of Britain's leading recorder players, performing and recording as soloist with many leading UK and European ensembles. …“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 08, 2012 | Hits: 128

"The Phoenix Recorder Orchestra was formed at the end of 2003. Our members come from as far afield as Chipping Norton, Abergavenny, Plymouth and Chichester.

We explore the recorder orchestra repertoire, from the 12th century right up to the present day. We use the entire range of recorders, from the tiny 6" garklein to the gigantic 6' contrabass, and this gives a rich and beautiful sound. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 02, 2008 | Hits: 303

"Piers Adams trained initially as an astrophysicist before turning professionally to the recorder at the age of 21. A series of prizes and awards - including first prize in the inaugural Moeck International Recorder Competition (1985) - led to debuts in the premier London venues, and launched his busy international solo career. He has given recitals in most of the major UK festivals and concert halls (including eight to date in the Wigmore Hall) and in most European countries, as well as visits to USA, Canada, Russia and the Far East. He has been invited to perform concertos with, amongst others, the BBC Symphony and Concert Orchestras, the Philharmonia, the Academy of Ancient Music, the English Sinfonia, the City of London Sinfonia, London Musici and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and has made many CD recordings, reflecting his wide musical tastes. He can frequently be heard on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM, both through his recordings and live concert broadcasts, and has appeared on television in many countries - including BBC's Pebble Mill, Blue Peter and Newsround. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 08, 2008 | Hits: 408

"The orchestra (founded in 2002) currently has about 50 members in sections playing sopranino, descant, treble, tenor, bass, great bass and contrabass recorders. New members are welcome. A good standard of playing and sight-reading is necessary, but auditions are not held. If you are in doubt, come and see how you fit in. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 02, 2008 | Hits: 415

"For nearly seventy years The Society of Recorder Players has been stimulating interest and enjoyment in the art of recorder playing. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 357

"The Thames Valley Recorder Orchestra (TVRO) is the UK's newest recorder orchestra. It was set up in March 2007 by Anne Helmore, with Helen Hooker as Musical Director.

TVRO currently has around 20 members but is interested in recruiting more players. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 17, 2008 | Hits: 659

"The Wirral Recorder Orchestra was founded in 1998 by Diane Barton, to encourage recorder players from all over the North West to play in an orchestral setting.

We generally perform two concerts per year in December and May.

The orchestra has nearly fifty members and its instrumentation includes sopranino, descant, treble, tenor, bass, great bass and contra bass recorders. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 30, 2008 | Hits: 395

"The purposes of the Aeolus Recorder Konsort are:

* To cultivate, foster, sponsor, and develop the understanding, taste and love of the musical arts.
* To cultivate, foster, sponsor, and develop love and appreciation of the art, history, literature and uses of the recorder and related musical instruments.
* To promote appreciation of and to raise the level of proficiency in the performance and uses of the recorder and related musical instruments. "

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 01, 2009 | Hits: 351

"The Alabama Recorder Association is a new chapter of the American Recorder Society. We want to share the joy of music and recorder playing through fellowship, education and performance opportunities. We welcome people of all playing abilities. If you want to learn how to play recorder, we can help." Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 01, 2009 | Hits: 327

"The American Recorder Society was founded in 1939 to enable recorder players to meet, improve their playing skills, and publish editions of recorder music. In 1999, the Society celebrated six decades of service to its constituents.

Today there are ARS members throughout the U.S., Canada, and 30 countries around the world, representing professional and amateur players, consorts and recorder orchestras, teachers, students, composers, workshop organizers, and those who make, repair, or sell recorders. Active ARS chapters exist all over North America. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 03, 2008 | Hits: 439

"Biography: Kay Hettich BA in Music, Princeton University MA in Music, University of California, Berkeley Conservatory diploma in piano. (The school no longer exists, although its affiliate still does. I usually omit the school name.) Kay has coached recorder ensembles--including mixed ensembles of voice, instruments, and recorders--since 1994. She has directed the Redding Chapter of the American Recorder Society since 2005. Kay was an ARS Scholarship recipient in 1994 and 2006. She attended San Francisco Early Music Society summer workshops in 1994, 2006, and 2008. She has received lessons and coaching from Judy Linsenberg, Annette Bauer, Frances Blaker, and Marion Verbruggen. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 07, 2009 | Hits: 471

"Annette Bauer, a native of Germany, studied medieval and renaissance music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland, specializing on recorder techniques with Conrad Steinmann (2001). She holds an MA in music from UC Santa Cruz (2004), and has been a student at the Ali Akbar College of Music in California since 1998, where she studies North Indian classical music on sarode, a stringed instrument. As a recorder player, Annette regularly performs with Baroque ensemble Les graces, Istanpitta medieval music ensemble, Farallon recorder consort, and has appeared at the Santa Cruz Baroque and the Carmel Bach Festivals, as well as with Texas Early Music Project, Chamber Music San Francisco, the Catacoustic Consort, and the California Bach Society. She has served on the recorder faculty for several of the San Francisco Early Music Society summer workshops, Amherst Early Music Festival, as well as for the Texas Fall Toot, and the San Francisco Orff Certification Course. Annette currently also teaches music at a K-8 school in Oakland, CA, and regularly conducts recorder workshops and classes in medieval notation in the San Francisco Bay Area. She plays Brazilian percussion with Maracatu Luta, and is the co-founder of Magic Carpet, a duo dedicated to the art of improvisation. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 15, 2008 | Hits: 1002

"The Atlanta Recorder Society's mission is to promote recorder playing in the metro Atlanta area through information about upcoming events,opportunites for group playing, connecting recorder players in the area, concerts, workshops and other opportunities. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 03, 2008 | Hits: 331

“The Austin Chapter of the American Recorder Society has been in existence since 1959, when Natalie and Don Morgan founded it. The chapter has over 30 members as of the 2007-08 season. Membership is open to all who play or enjoy the recorder; annual dues of $15 are requested for local membership, and you are encouraged to join the national ARS organization as well. “

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 01, 2011 | Hits: 231

"Our consort enjoys making our own live music with recorders.

The consort meets weekly throughout the year. We play recorders ranging from the sopranino to the contrabass. Our extensive library includes music from medieval times to the present. The consort is available to play for special occasions." Visit site for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 07, 2009 | Hits: 407