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‘…the Kent Sinfonia responded generously to Nicholas Jenkins’ characteristically expansive direction, not least in the many deftly edged orchestral solos….’ (Mark Pappenheim: ‘Opera’ magazine - Vaughan Williams: ‘The Poisoned Kiss’)
The Kent Sinfonia, the professional orchestra for the County of Kent, has members who either live in Kent or who have strong links with the County; many also play with the major London orchestras and throughout the country.
Our raisons d'etres relate to:
- Live classical concerts
- Live opera performances
- Arts projects & educational workshops & presentations for schools and the community
- Music for corporate and other events
- Opportunities for arts funding & sponsorship
- Available to accompany choral societies and other performing groups & artistes
History
Originally founded in 1962 by Béla de Csilléry, then County Music Adviser, the orchestra gained full professional status in 1995. A registered charity and one of the foremost orchestras in the South East, its aim is to take music to all. Central to this is its extended educational programme devoted to the next generation of concert goers. Kent Sinfonia also works with top international soloists and offers a platform for outstanding young artists.
Partnerships
Kent Sinfonia has recently been working as resident orchestra for New Sussex Opera. The first partnership was in January 2008, for performances of Mozart’s ‘Idomeneo’, followed by a second very successful collaboration for Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Poisoned Kiss’ in November 2008. Kent Sinfonia was again invited to perform with NSO in October 2009, for Offenbach’s ‘Die Rheinnixen’ (’The Rhine Fairies’), culminating in a debut performance at the Cadogan Hall, London.
Kent Sinfonia also performs several education music outreach projects, which include concerts and workshops, with primary and secondary schools in Kent and the South East. The first of these, ‘Pirates Ahoy!’ (with children’s concerts presenter Alasdair Malloy, also principal percussionist of BBCCO), at the Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks, in April 2008, was followed by our latest project for young children, ‘Birds and Beasts’, also performed at the Stag, in June 2009, as part of the Sevenoaks Festival. This project was supported by the Ernest Cook Trust, and the orchestra has recently received funding from the D’Oyly Carte Trust towards further performances in Kent. Kent Sinfonia’s principal wind players (the Kent Wind Soloists) also perform a lively and successful workshop outreach programme, linking, when possible, to orchestral performances.
Kent County Council, in partnership with the Creative Foundation, Folkestone, were successful in their bid for the Cultural Offer ‘Find your Talent’ funding, for working with schools in the Shepway area and extending to other areas of East Kent, which began in Autumn 2008. Kent Sinfonia has been invited to participate as one of the cultural partners for the project.
Testimonials
'…the Kent Sinfonia was faultless in its various renditions of familiar and well-loved pieces’.
’…a second superb performance with the Kent Sinfonia…. ‘
‘….this was a night that will be remembered for a very long while’. (Festival Proms, Tonbridge Castle – Kent & Sussex Courier)
‘Conductor Nicholas Jenkins drew a clean and poised performance from the orchestra…’ (Ruth Elleson: ‘Opera Today’ – Offenbach ‘The Rhine Fairies’)
CD reviews:
‘….lightness of touch…the accomplished performers of the Kent Sinfonia…A joy throughout.’ (‘Musician’ – Musicians’ Union journal)
‘Unique and uniquely valuable recordings of Walter Leigh from Malcolm Riley and the Kent Sinfonia’ (Rob Barnett, Music-Web international/British Music Society)
‘…a valuable issue, well played by Kent Sinfonia, whose fresh sound I like…Strongly recommended’ (Philip Scowcroft, ‘Journal into Melody’ [The Robert Farnon Society]).
For more information please see our Performances page.
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