TVYO news and events
Thursday 30th January 2025
Timothy Softley appointed as TVYO’s new Chairperson
The management committee are very pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Timothy Softley as Chairperson of Thames Vale Youth Orchestra. We are all looking forward to working with Tim and benefitting from his expertise.Tim is a Professor of Chemistry at Birmingham University at present having previously been a Professor at University of Oxford and (simultaneously) a Tutorial Fellow of Merton College for 25 years. He is now an Emeritus Fellow of Merton and continues to live in Oxfordshire. He is an active amateur musician, being a diploma level oboist playing in chamber groups and singing in Oxford Bach Choir since 2002. Tim has experience of youth orchestras through his children who played in the Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra for many years. When he was a Sub-Warden of Merton College, he played a vital role in the work to plan and advocate for the launching of the Choral Foundation in 2008. We are sure that Tim's involvement and experience with other charitable organisations (including The Royal Society of London and the Leverhulme Trust), will allow TVYO to go from strength to strength.
Wednesday 11th December 2024
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TVYO's latest end of term concert
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The orchestra performed at the Amey Theatre, Abingdon under the baton of our conductor and music director, Caroline Hobbs-Smith. The programme featured three dramatic works: Edward Elgar's Caractacus; William Walton's Suite from the film, Henry V; and the symphonic suite, Scheherezade, Op. 35 by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
Monday 2nd September 2024, 6.15pm – 7.15pm
TVYO introductory evening at Larkmead School
The new year started with an opportunity for new and current members to meet ahead of rehearsals. Caroline Hobbs-Smith, gave a short introduction to the pieces in this term’s programme and explained how an orchestra is set up, the running of a typical rehearsal and how to read the beat patterns of a conductor.
