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![]() Our appreciative audience enjoyed a programme featuring works by Mendelssohn, Vaughan-Williams, Ravel and Bach arr. Webern but the hghlight for most was probably a performance of Schumann's wonderful Symphony No.4. Our sincere thanks go to our guest conductor Paul McCusker who led us so well and we have thoroughly enjoyed working under his direction! Thank you also to Zuzanna Edmonds, our professional leader, for her guidance and encouragement and to the SSO committee for all their work to bring the whole concert together. We're now looking forward to the summer break before resuming rehearsals at the end of August! |
![]() Having completed his PhD in molecular parasitology in 2014, Paul worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Biological Sciences at QUB before leaving in 2017 to study conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Garry Walker and Alasdair Mitchell. There, he won the Hugh S Roberton prize for orchestral conducting, participated in a workshop with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and conducted the Red Note Ensemble in concert. In 2018 he won the panel and orchestra prizes at the Feis Ceoil Conducting Competition with the RTE Concert Orchestra, which led to a concert performance with the orchestra. Paul has subsequently conducted the Ulster Orchestra, Ulster Youth Orchestra and Esker Festival Orchestra as well as founding/directing Laganside Sinfonia, a Belfast based charity orchestra that has raised around £20,000 for local charities since its establishment. While working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Medical College of Wisconsin, USA (2018 – 2020), he established an orchestra before returning to QUB in 2020. Paul is also a regular player in our first violin section and we are looking forward to working under his direction over the next few weeks! To read Paul's full biography, head to our Conductors page. |
A huge SSO thank you to everyone who came along to our Orchestral Masterpieces Concert last night! Alongside works by Sibelius and Tchaikovsky, we were treated to a wonderful performance of Weber's Bassoon Concerto by Greg Topping - well done, Greg!
Congratulations to our leader Zuzanna and all our players and a special mention must go to our guest conductor Tanya Houghton. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Tanya over the last few weeks and sincerely hope that there will be an opportunity for her to join us again in the near future.
Thank you also to everyone on the SSO committee for putting the whole concert together and to the family of our founder Dr Havelock Nelson who continue to support their father's legacy.
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![]() An accomplished player and member of the Ulster Orchestra, Greg has recently played a key role in the success of the "To Bassoon and Beyond" collaboration between the EA Music Service and the Ulster Orchestra which was recognised as the Classic FM Best Music Learning Initiative in 2023. Learn more about Greg by clicking here! |
![]() Sibelius - Karelia Suite Weber - Bassoon concerto (Soloist - Greg Topping) Tchaikovsky - Symphony no 4 Conductor - Tanya Houghton Leader - Zuzanna Edmonds We begin with the Karelia Suite which was the first major triumph of Sibelius as a composer and has been a regular concert favourite ever since its first performance in 1893. Weber's ever-popular Bassoon Concerto in F major was written in a mere four days in 1811. and we are delighted to welcome Greg Topping as our soloist. An accomplished player and member of the Ulster Orchestra, Greg has recently played a key role in the success of the "To Bassoon and Beyond" collaboration between the EA Music Service and the Ulster Orchestra which was recognised as the Classic FM Best Music Learning Initiative in 2023. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.4 begins with one of the most arresting and dramatic openings in all of symphonic literature as the composer depicts the inexorable power of Fate with stunning fanfares by the brass and winds. Written following a turbulent period in his personal life, the first performance was given in 1878. |
Thanks for your support and we look forward to sharing our plans for 2024 very soon! |
![]() Thank you to our guest conductor Philip Walton for leading us so diligently over the last few weeks and for compèring the concert. Congratulations to our leader Zuzanna Edmonds for her incredible performance of Vivaldi's Winter from The Four Seasons. Our thanks also go to the whole committee for putting together all the arrangements. And to you, our lovely audience, thank you once again for your support! Merry Christmas! |
Get into the Christmas spirit with a wonderful evening of music making - just the thing to get the festive season off to a great start! Tickets are now on sale https://www.laganvalleyisland.co.uk/.../Studio.../335627 Find out more by heading to our events page |
![]() Congratulations to our leader Zuzanna and all our players and a special mention must go to our guest conductor Tanya Houghton. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Tanya over the last few weeks and sincerely hope that there will be an opportunity for her to join us again in the near future. Thank you also to everyone on the SSO committee for putting the whole concert together. To see more photos from this concert, head to our Photos section! |
![]() A talented harpist, singer and musical director, Tanya brings a wealth of professional experience to the rostrum and we are enjoying our rehearsals under her direction. Learn more about Tanya by visiting our Conductors page. |
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![]() We are delighted to have appointed Zuzanna Edmonds as our new leader. Zuzanna is a current member of the Ulster Orchestra, and brings a wealth of professional experience to the role. Her first concert with us was in June and was a great success. We enjoy working with her enormously and look forward to many more concerts together! |