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The Orchestra of Opera North

The Orchestra of Opera North holds a unique place amongst British orchestras. Universally praised by audiences and critics alike, the orchestra is the only ensemble in the country to have a year-round dual role in the opera house and concert hall.

The Orchestra of Opera North plays a significant part in the major concert series of the region, including working with Kirklees Council to curate a ground-breaking collaboration which has resulted in the Kirklees Concert Season based in Huddersfield and Dewsbury Town Halls.

Important relationships with Leeds International Concert Season, Leeds Town Hall and Leeds City Council see the Orchestra performing regular concerts of major symphonic repertoire, gala concerts and collaborating with the region’s choral societies. It is the resident orchestra for the Leeds Conductors Competition and plays in Leeds University’s International Concert Season annually.

The Orchestra of Opera North works closely with the Education department to develop the skills of young musicians, connect with new audiences, and perform family-friendly concerts.

The Orchestra has received international recognition for its recordings of music by Walton, Delius and Vaughan Williams and more recently has recorded the complete works for piano and orchestra by Beethoven with Howard Shelley as soloist/director for Chandos, which received universal praise from critics.

The Orchestra of Opera North in concert, conducted by Dalia Stasevska

Who's Who

First violins
Katie Stillman (leader)
Winona Fifield
Byron Parish
Tamsin Symons
Claire Osborne
Anthony Banks
Michael Ardron*
Brian Reilly*
Susannah Simmons
Catherine Landen

Second violins
Katherine New*
Ian Bone
Cristina Ocaña Rosado
Alison Dixon
Helen Greig*
Jacqueline Cima
Oliver Baily

Violas
David Aspin
Lourenço Macedo Sampaio
Anne Trygstad
Clare Gardiner
Katie Jarvis
Vince Parsonage

Cellos
Jessica Burroughs
Daniel Bull
Lydia Dobson
Damion Browne

Basses
Claire Sadler*

Flutes
Luke O’Toole
Fiona Colville

Oboes
Richard Hewitt*
Catherine Lowe*

Cor Anglais
Catherine Lowe*

Clarinets
Oliver Casanovas Nuevo
Andrew Mason

Bassoons
Adam Mackenzie
David Baker*

Horns
John Pratt
Alexander Hamilton
Sam Yates

Trumpets
David Hooper

Trombones
Blair Sinclair
Tom Berry

Bass trombone
Christian Jones

Tuba
Brian Kingsley*

Percussion
Christopher Bradley*

Timpani
Mark Wagstaff

Harp
Celine Saout

* Indicates Opera North Company member for 25 years or more

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