Thank you to everyone in BSO who sent in their comments and preferences in the BSO leader selection process. We had a very good response and the committee has taken all of this into account when making the selection. I am really pleased to be able to let you know that Stephanie Waite has accepted the offer to lead BSO. She will have some very large shoes to fill when Caroline steps down after the next concert but I know you will all make her feel welcome.
Karen Mason
Chair
To reply: [email protected]
From the Committee:
BSO Information:
Rehearsals: Wednesday 13th May 7.30pm BGI
N.B. Next week: don’t forget, there is an additional rehearsal on Friday evening at BGI at 7.30pm with the soloists.
Message from Bjorn: next week we will do Bruckner first and last and touch on the Beethoven at the end, if time.
We need one more steward for the BSO concert at the Corn Exchange on Saturday 23rd May. If any Sinfonia members would like to help BSO stewards we would be delighted to welcome them to the team. Also any partners, parents, neighbours etc of BSO or Sinfonia members would be equally welcome. Stewards need to be at the Corn Exchange at 6.30pm on Saturday 23rd May and duties are mostly guiding the audience to their seats either in the main auditorium or on the balcony and explaining about the QR code for access to the programme notes.
If anyone can help, or knows anyone who can help, please contact Tony Ploszajski, Chief Steward at [email protected] or on 07742 533129
Thank you so much.
Sinfonia Information:
Message from Ian:
Thank you so much to all who played in the exceptionally exciting and good concert on 2nd May. The orchestral sound was excellent. Thank you too for the way you all approached the new compositions with such professionalism. The young composers were all over the moon and very moved both by the performance of their pieces and the reception that you all gave them.
I very much enjoyed the whole evening, and wasn’t Carolyn’s singing sublime? Thank you for such a memorable concert!
Just one small reminder, if you have any comments to pass back to the composers please let me have them.
Message from Ann and Georgina for Publicity:
Feedback from our BSO Open Rehearsal for U3A:
“Thank you to all of you who helped organise yesterday evening. We all had a ball!”
Gayle Holliday
Co-Secretaries, Bedford u3a
Gayle shared with me their press release about the evening:
Two local Bedford organisations are teaming up for a fun evening of music! The Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra invited members of Bedford u3a to attend a rehearsal for their upcoming concert on Saturday 23 May 2026 at the Bedford Corn Exchange.
Under the guidance of the celebrated Conductor Bjorn Bantock, the orchestra will be playing music by Wagner (presumably Act 3 of Lohengrin), Beethoven (Triple Concerto) and Bruckner (Symphony No. 3).
On the day of the concert, the audience will also have the pleasure of hearing solo performances by Mike Gemmill, Julian Metzger and Stephen Meakins. Bedford u3a were absolutely delighted to get a chance to watch a full orchestra practice their music, giving them a glimpse into this incredibly professional and local group or musicians.
Gayle Holliday of Bedford U3A said "the evening gave us a wonderful opportunity to see how this very talented group of individuals work together to produce the beautiful sound of a full orchestra. We all had a fabulous time!".
Bedford u3a is a member of the national Third Age Trust (TAT), an organisation that welcomes anyone who is not working full-time offering a variety of leisure activities and learning opportunities, all designed to be fun!
Thanks to BSO, Bjorn, Caroline and everyone who helped out on the night to make our guests feel so welcome. Many of them told me on the way out that they hoped to come to the concert.
One visitor played in BSO for many years, David, in the second violins and had a good chat with Sara!
It was such a lovely event and felt like we were giving something very special. For us, it’s a real coup to have a way to connect with potential new members of our audience. I hope we can continue the collaboration.
For lots more photos, go to our Facebook/Instagram pages!
https://www.facebook.com/BedfordshireOrchestralSociety
May 23rd BSO
Three things to mention to sell this concert…
Big tunes, with lots of excitement in the Wagner and Bruckner
Fabulous local soloists playing the Triple Concerto by Beethoven
Plus it’s the last BSO concert of the season - the next one isn’t until November!
Now is the moment!
Book tickets:
We have sold less than 25% of the tickets so far - we need your help! Everyone should be aiming to sell 10 please!
Open Rehearsal: BSO NEW RECRUITS May 20th
This is an opportunity for anyone interested in potentially joining BSO to come along and see us in action, watch a rehearsal and speak to members and hopefully see first hand that the standard is high and the welcome is warm!
For further information and a booking link, please see below.
Please encourage anyone who is possibly interested to come along, even if they are thinking about joining in September 2028.
Booking link: https://www.ticketsource.com/bedfordshire-orchestral-society/open-rehearsal-for-new-recruits-for-sept-2026/e-vrgdzd
Next season!
Tickets and our Season Ticket (20% OFF) are available now - with further group discounts available and of course, children go FREE.
Browse the new season and the programme here: https://www.ticketsource.com/bedfordshire-orchestral-society
There are now Season Cards available for you to collect and distribute! Please pick them up at the BSO rehearsal/concert.
We'd like to start selling our season tickets now and you can help us on social media.
Love it, share it, comment on it!
Please support us online - it’s so encouraging when we see some love and noise!
A huge thank you to Georgina who is doing a fabulous job on Facebook promoting our BSO concert - and your support makes all the difference.
We’re seeing very little growth/interaction on Instagram compared with Facebook where we regularly get over 2000 views on posts and can access a lot of local groups. We’re wondering if it is worth continuing with our account on Insta. Please come and talk to us about what you’re seeing, if you’re a user! Should we stay or should we go?!
Thank you!
Best wishes
Ann and Georgina
PS to reply to Ann: [email protected]
Reply to Georgina: [email protected]
From our Friends: the Philharmonia
Philharmonia Children’s Concert in half term: Winnie the Pooh
Looking for Half Term ideas?
Family Concert: Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh
Friday 29 May, St Paul's Church Bedford, 2pm & 3.30pm
The Philharmonia cello octet invite you on an exciting half-term adventure into Hundred Acre Wood, featuring musical appearances by Piglet, Eyeore, Tigger, and a certain little honey-loving bear named Pooh.
Music composed by the Philharmonia’s very own Richard Birchall brings A. A. Milne’s beautiful landscape to life in this charming, heart-warming, family-friendly concert – perfect for celebrating the centenary year of one of the world’s most beloved stories.
This adventure runs for approximately 35 minutes, and is aimed at children ages 3-7, though all are welcome!
Tickets £5/£10
Family Concert: Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh | Philharmonia
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