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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 19/06/2026

🔫 Don't miss our performance of Copland's Billy the Kid – the archetypal sound of a Western – on Saturday at Fairfield Halls 📗 Buy a programme to discover how Copland brought Billy's story to life… and which 1980s heart-throb played the outlaw on screen

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 19/06/2026

🗣️ We're thrilled to be teaming up once again with our friends the Epiphoni Consort, who join us for John Adams's Harmonium on Saturday ✒️ Get a programme for full texts of the wonderful poems by John Donne and Emily Dickinson 🎫 kso.org.uk/event/coplan...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 19/06/2026

💔 On Saturday, we're also performing Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story 📗 Pick up a programme to find out how he teamed up with a young Stephen Sondheim to create the enduringly popular musical

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 16/06/2026

🇺🇲 We're back at ‪Fairfield Halls on Saturday afternoon with an exciting all-American programme of Adams, Bernstein and Copland 📘 Grab a programme to find out why Adams's Harmonium is a key work of 1980s Minimalism – and a surprisingly moving one, too 🎫 www.fairfield.co.uk/events/kensi...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 10/05/2026

🎻 Get to know our violinist Ria Hopkinson in our Meet the Orchestra programme feature at @cadoganhall.bsky.social on Tuesday 🇩🇰 She's a notorious Nielsen obsessive, so her choice of fantasy KSO programme may not come as a huge surprise…

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 10/05/2026

🇩🇪 On Tuesday at @cadoganhall.bsky.social we're also performing Boris Blacher's sparkling, witty Orchestral Variations on a Theme by N Paganini 💎 Pick up a programme to find out how the German composer contributed a gem to the list of works inspired by Paganini's famous Caprice.

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 09/05/2026

🎹 We're joined on Tuesday by former BBC Young Musician star Firoze Madon for Grieg's much-loved Piano Concerto 🇳🇴 Our programme notes illuminate the work's historic première, which thrilled famous musicians and royalty alike

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 08/05/2026

Hør efter, alle sammen! 🇩🇰 We're back at ‪@cadoganhall.bsky.social on Tuesday to perform Nielsen's extraordinary Symphony No.5 📘 Grab a programme to find out why Simon Rattle believes this dramatic, powerful work is Nielsen's "war symphony"

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 14/03/2026

📕 Get to know oboist Lindi Renier Todd in our Meet the Orchestra programme feature at our concert @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Monday 🎵 She recalls her favourite KSO concerts, including the "terrifying" experience of playing with a very well-known soloist…

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 13/03/2026

🏴‍☠️ We're also performing Berlioz's Le Corsaire overture, inspired by the action-packed tale of a pirate chief 🏖️ Pick up a programme at @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Monday to find out how Lord Byron, a lost love, Rome and Nice combined to inspire this orchestral showpiece

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 12/03/2026

💔 On Monday at @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social we're joined by rising star Petar Pejčić for Dvořák's Cello Concerto, partly inspired by the composer’s dying sister-in-law

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 10/03/2026

🎻 We're back at ‪@sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Monday with Brahms's fabulous Symphony No.3 📘 Grab a programme to see the exquisite paintings made in response to Brahms's work in our latest collaboration with the artist Ernestine Tahedl

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 19/02/2026

We're back at @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Monday 16 March for a lovely concert of Berlioz, Dvořák & Brahms with guest conductor Matt Scott Rogers. Hope you can join us! kso.org.uk/event/brahms...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 15/11/2025

🎻 Get to know viola player Jeremy Lambert in our Meet the Orchestra programme feature @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Sunday 🎥 He picks his fantasy KSO programme – including not one, but two composers that no other orchestra member has ever chosen before…

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 14/11/2025

🧙‍♀️ We're also performing James MacMillan's The Confession of Isobel Gowdie, about a woman burnt as a witch in Scotland in 1662 ✝️ Get a programme to find out what inspired him to compose this beautiful, brutal piece – the "requiem that Isobel Gowdie never had"

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 13/11/2025

🌊 Doreen Carwithen's Bishop Rock, depicting the westernmost lighthouse in the British Isles, is full of the dramatic writing also heard in her film scores 🏎️ Meanwhile, our programme notes look at how Ruth Gipps's string writing echoes the pace of the zippy sports car she loved to drive

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 11/11/2025

🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️We’re back at @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Sunday afternoon for a performance full of girl power 📘 Grab a programme to learn more about the unfairly overlooked 20th-century British composers Doreen Carwithen and Ruth Gipps

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 06/10/2025

🎻 Get to know our longtime violinist Bronwen Fisher in our Meet the Orchestra programme feature @sinfoniasmithsq.bluesky.social today 🎺 She reveals which concerto she'd most like KSO to perform – and she already has a special soloist lined up for it, too…

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 05/10/2025

🇷🇺 We pay tribute to Rodion Shchedrin, who died in August, by performing his 'Naughty Limericks' in our opening concert of 2025/26 🩰 Pick up a programme @sinfoniasmithsq.bluesky.social to find out more about the Russian composer and his late, great Soviet ballerina wife

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 05/10/2025

🇨🇿 We're also performing Martinů's Les fresques de Piero della Francesca, inspired by the Italian master's early Renaissance frescoes 🎨 Get a programme to see the stunning works that so struck the composer when he saw them in Arezzo, Tuscany, in 1954

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 03/10/2025

We're back at ‪@sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Monday to kick off our season with Stravinsky's The Firebird – the complete ballet 📘 Grab a programme for a full synopsis and to learn how the work catapulted the composer to international fame

KSO's concert flyer for Monday 6 October 2025 at Smith Square Hall. The image shows an original costume design for The Firebird by Leon Bakst, 1910 in orange and gold.

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 13/09/2025

Our 2025-26 season in full. We bring you music by John Adams & James MacMillan; Brahms, Copland, Dvořák, Grieg, Nielsen & Stravinsky as well as lesser know pieces by Elfrida Andrée, Doreen Carwithen & Ruth Gipps

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 12/09/2025

We begin our 2025/26 season with a performance of Stravinsky’s complete ballet The Firebird at @sinfoniasmithsq.bluesky.social The concert opens with Rodion Shchedrin’s Concerto for Orchestra No.1, ‘Naughty Limerocks’ which is followed by Martinů’s Les fresques de Piero della Francesca

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 30/06/2025

🎵 Get to know our longtime tuba player Neil Wharmby in our Meet the Orchestra programme feature @cadoganhall.bsky.social on Monday ⭐ He reveals his top KSO concerts of the past 35 years, from his unique perspective at the back of the band

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 29/06/2025

🎹 We're thrilled to be joined by pianist Firoze Madon for Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini on Monday 📘 Grab a programme @cadoganhall.bsky.social‬ to read about this former BBC Young Musician keyboard finalist

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 28/06/2025

🇷🇺 In a programme of Russian greats, we're serving up a double helping of Rachmaninov, including his famous Paganini Variations 🌊 We're also playing The Sea and the Seagulls, plus Lyadov's terrifying Kikimora @cadoganhall.bsky.social‬ on Monday

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 27/06/2025

🇷🇺 We're back at @cadoganhall.bsky.social on Monday to perform Shostakovich's Symphony No.1 – a masterpiece written when he was just 18 📘 Get a programme to learn how the work, championed by fellow composer Glazunov, brought him international fame Tickets cadoganhall.com/whats-on/ken...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 02/06/2025

Next concert on Monday 30 June at @cadoganhall.bsky.social Lyadov, Shostakovich and Rachmaninov's Paganini Variations with recent #BBC #YoungMusician finalist Firoze Madon 🎫 cadoganhall.com/whats-on/ken...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 19/05/2025

Let’s set this place up for a Bruckner-sized orchestra!

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 19/05/2025

If you’re looking for a ticket for our Bruckner 7 concert this evening at @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social we’ve managed to make a few more seats available Just 6 left now though and once they’re gone, they’re gone www.sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk/event/kso-br...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 17/05/2025

🎵 Get to know our longtime cellist Annie Marr-Johnson in our Meet the Orchestra programme feature @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Monday 🌞 She reveals her top KSO concerts of the past 30 years – plus her spectacular choice for the piece we should play next…

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 17/05/2025

🇩🇪 We're thrilled to be joined by guest conductor Leonard Elschenbroich to perform Bruckner @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Monday 🍃 Grab a programme to find out more (while enjoying the fantastic tremolo that this great cellist has worked on with us)

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 14/05/2025

7️⃣ We're back at @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social on Monday 19 May to perform Bruckner's monumental Symphony No.7 – the work that finally won him acclaim ⚰️ Get a programme to find out how Richard Wagner's death influenced the piece, including a true symphonic innovation…

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 09/04/2025

📰 We're delighted to see a glowing review of our recent concert with Julian Bliss in the latest edition of Clarinet & Saxophone magazine ⭐ His performance of Lindberg's Clarinet Concerto is (rightly) described as "astonishing", "phenomenal" and "fabulous" – and the orchestra "shone", too!

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 28/03/2025

🎺 Get to know our longtime trumpeter Stephen Willcox in our Meet the Orchestra programme feature at Fairfield Halls on Saturday ⚔️ He reveals his favourite performances with KSO and shares an exciting – and ambitious – idea for a future gig…

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 28/03/2025

🌱 We're excited to announce the launch of our new KSO Scholars scheme, giving talented young musicians a chance to play with the orchestra 📖 Read all about it in the programme at our concert at Fairfield Halls on Saturday (noting the early 6pm start!)

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 27/03/2025

🗣️ We're thrilled to be joined by Epiphoni Consort at Fairfield Halls on Saturday – it's always a pleasure to perform with this fantastic choir epiphoni.org.uk

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 26/03/2025

🪐 With Nasa's stranded astronauts back on Earth, it's KSO's turn to launch into space, as we perform Holst's masterpiece at Fairfield Halls on Saturday

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 21/03/2025

The bass oboe is in the house ready for The Planets next week 🪐 Come and see it in the wild! 🎟️ www.fairfield.co.uk/events/kensi...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 27/02/2025

🔭 Did you catch the Planetary Parade this week, when seven planets are all visible in the evening sky at the same time? 🪐 Well, it wasn't quite the last time until 2040 because on Saturday 29 March all the 7 other planets will be musically aligned at Fairfield Halls and audible from Earth!

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 25/02/2025

Next concert: Saturday 29 March at 6PM at Fairfield Halls - Music by Foulds, Tippett, Patrick Hawes, Vaughan Williams and culminating in Holst's perennially popular piece for large orchestra - The Planets 🎫 www.fairfield.co.uk/events/kensi...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 24/01/2025

Concert tomorrow night at @southbankcentre.bsky.social! Some tickets still available including just 4 left at £16 - grab yours now before it's too late!

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 24/01/2025

🎵 Get to know our longtime clarinettist Claire Baughan in our Meet the Orchestra programme feature @southbankcentre.bsky.social on Saturday 🇺🇸 She shares an amazing idea for a future KSO concert… and she's on our repertoire committee, so let's hope it comes to pass!

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 23/01/2025

🎥 Grab a programme @southbankcentre.bsky.social on Saturday to discover how Prokofiev was persuaded to write film music for the first time 🪖 …and which 1970s stars have since nicked bits of Lieutenant Kijé for their own music and films! www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/kso...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 22/01/2025

🇫🇮 Grab a programme @southbankcentre.bsky.social on Saturday to learn all about our star soloist in the Lindberg Clarinet Concerto – the amazing Julian Bliss 🤩 We're thrilled to be joined by such an exceptional musician, especially to play such a fabulous piece!

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 21/01/2025

Get a programme @southbankcentre.bsky.social on Saturday to find out why Ravel fell out with Diaghilev and Stravinsky over La valse… 🇪🇸 …and how his affinity with Spain – we're also playing Rapsodie espagnole – was influenced by his mum Marie

Concert flyer for Kensington Symphony Orchestra on Saturday 25 January 2025 at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. Image shows the painting 'The Viennese Ball' by Wilhelm Gause

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 20/01/2025

We rehearsed Magnus Lindberg's clarinet concerto with phenomenal soloist Julian Bliss yesterday. There are some tickets left for the concert on Saturday 25 January at @southbankcentre.bsky.social so make sure you get yours while they're still there. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/kso...

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 17/01/2025

Julian Bliss will be our soloist in Magnus Lindberg's clarinet concerto next Saturday 25 January at Queen Elizabeth Hall @southbankcentre.bsky.social

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 14/01/2025

There are still some Full-time Student/Under 16 concession tickets available from £12. 🎫 Get yours here: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/kso...

Clarinettist Julian Bliss is the soloist in Magnus Lindberg's concerto with Kensington Symphony Orchestra on Saturday 25 January at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. Flyer shows Julian Bliss standing in a green field with his clarinet

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Kensington Symphony Orchestra @kso.org.uk · 11/12/2024

And for our next trick we will be performing these 4 fantastic pieces at @southbankcentre.bsky.social on Saturday 25 January with clarinettist Michael Collins #Ravel #Prokofiev #MagnusLindberg 🎫 kso.org.uk/event/concer...

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