Past Concerts & Events
Our Concerts
BSO performs 3-4 concerts a year in September, November, March and June. We continue to explore new repertoire and create exhilarating performances. Our concerts, collaborations with local arts organizations, outreach project with schools and come & play string days are all part of the orchestra's mission - education in and appreciation of orchestral music.
2024-2025
2023-2024
This concert, at Rossall School was part of Lancashire Music Society's Concert Series.
Martin Roscoe (piano) playing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
Premiere of Nigel Clarke's Sir Hiram Maxim's Captive Flying Machine
Shostacovich Symphony No 5
Our Let’s Dance concert at the Grand Theatre Blackpool.
Where else can you hear Abba’s Dancing Queen, The Blue Danube, Marquez and Tchaikovsky and much more?
We were very grateful to the Halsall Foundation for their support with our Let's Dance concert.
Our summer concert was conducted by a guest conductor, Flick Cliffe. We introduced our audience to Farrenc's wonderful 3rd symphony followed by a programme of music inspired by flight.
Our annual Come and Play String Day was a great success.
The day included coaching from Alexandra Stemp and Amanda Turner and culminated in an informal play through for family and friends.
In February our pop up orchestra brought a smile to people's faces as they came into Blackpool Victoria Hospital to visit friends and relatives. Our collection was for the Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.
Helen Harrison debuted on woodblock!
In March we had a conducting workshop for orchestral members where they conducted Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and Prices' Juba Dance at a rehearsal as part two of the workshop with Helen.
In May we welcomed 6 undergraduate conductors from the Royal Northern College of Music as part of their conducting exams. It was fascinating to witness different technical and stylistic approaches.
We wish them all the very best for the future.
2022-2023
We were invited by the Duchy of Lancaster to perform at Lancaster Castle. We are the first symphony orchestra to have played there in its 800 year history!
Our Prom Concert was re-programmed as a tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth
- Beach Gaelic Symphony
- Rossini William Tell
- Vaughan Williams Folk Song Suite
- Bartok Rumanian Folk Dances
- Jacob Old Wine in New Bottles
A family friendly concert featuring msic from film and television. Included music from Space Odyssey 2001, Downtown Abbey, Doctor Who, The King and I, Indiana Jones and Star Wards. Not forgetting adverts for Hovis and Stella Artois!
Soloist Andy Reynish
This concert was supported by Lancashire County Council.
Our annual Come and Play String Day featured coaching from violinist, Alexandra Stemp and Cellist, Amanda Turner.
We welcome regular members and string players from further afield.
Our Concerts
BSO performs 3-4 concerts a year in September, November, March and June. We continue to explore new repertoire and create exhilarating performances. Our concerts, collaborations with local arts organizations, outreach project with schools and come & play string days are all part of the orchestra's mission - education in and appreciation of orchestral music.
2024-2025
Last Night of the Proms included all your favourite Proms classics including Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.
We were also joined by international opera star, Jane Irwin, who performed a selection of operatic and musical theatre highlights.
Our opera gala included favourite choruses and solo arias with superlative soloists.
2023-2024
This concert, at Rossall School was part of Lancashire Music Society's Concert Series.
Martin Roscoe (piano) playing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
Premiere of Nigel Clarke's Sir Hiram Maxim's Captive Flying Machine
Shostacovich Symphony No 5
Our Let’s Dance concert at the Grand Theatre Blackpool.
Where else can you hear Abba’s Dancing Queen, The Blue Danube, Marquez and Tchaikovsky and much more?
We were very grateful to the Halsall Foundation for their support with our Let's Dance concert.
Our summer concert was conducted by a guest conductor, Flick Cliffe. We introduced our audience to Farrenc's wonderful 3rd symphony followed by a programme of music inspired by flight.
Our annual Come and Play String Day was a great success.
The day included coaching from Alexandra Stemp and Amanda Turner and culminated in an informal play through for family and friends.
In February our pop up orchestra brought a smile to people's faces as they came into Blackpool Victoria Hospital to visit friends and relatives. Our collection was for the Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.
Helen Harrison debuted on woodblock!
In March we had a conducting workshop for orchestral members where they conducted Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and Prices' Juba Dance at a rehearsal as part two of the workshop with Helen.
In May we welcomed 6 undergraduate conductors from the Royal Northern College of Music as part of their conducting exams. It was fascinating to witness different technical and stylistic approaches.
We wish them all the very best for the future.
2022-2023
We were invited by the Duchy of Lancaster to perform at Lancaster Castle. We are the first symphony orchestra to have played there in its 800 year history!
Our Prom Concert was re-programmed as a tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth
- Beach Gaelic Symphony
- Rossini William Tell
- Vaughan Williams Folk Song Suite
- Bartok Rumanian Folk Dances
- Jacob Old Wine in New Bottles
A family friendly concert featuring msic from film and television. Included music from Space Odyssey 2001, Downtown Abbey, Doctor Who, The King and I, Indiana Jones and Star Wards. Not forgetting adverts for Hovis and Stella Artois!
Soloist Andy Reynish
This concert was supported by Lancashire County Council.
Our annual Come and Play String Day featured coaching from violinist, Alexandra Stemp and Cellist, Amanda Turner.
We welcome regular members and string players from further afield.
2021-2022
We presented Helen Harrison a golden baton at the Prom for the 10th anniversary of her being our MD and Conductor.
2020-2021
2019-2020
Cancelled due to COVID
2018-2019
2017-2018
Video Polovtsian Dances
The Last Night of the Proms featured a new commission, Cityscapes by Edward Rugman, our Composer in Residence. We were also please to be working with a new musical partner, Poulton People's Choir, who joined us to lead the singing in the second half.
(Clarinet)
As part of our outreach work children were able to come and meet the soloist, clarinetist, Claire Shipway and ask her questions.
2016-2017
(Soprano)
(Trumpet)
The March 2017 concert was originally programmed as a Choral Concert with AKS Lytham (Mozart Requim in D minor, Glinka Overture: Ruslan and Ludmilla and Britten Matinees Musicals Op. 24.
This concert had to be re-programmed due to circumstances beyond our control.
Outreach work included a visit to Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School where pupils who are learning woodwind instruments sat amongst our players for part of the rehearsal and then had the opportunity to conduct us!
At our summer concert the children also had the chance to meet the soloist, James Nash.
2015-2016
(Tenor)
(Guest Conductor)
2014-2015
(Guitarist)
(Violin)
2013-2014
A Russian Afternoon
Sunday 24 November 2013 at 2.30pm
Blackpool 6th Form College
Blackpool Old Rd, FY3 7LR
Shostakovich Festive Overture
Khachaturian Adagio from Spartacus
Arutunian Trumpet Concert
Soloist: Hannah Mackenzie
Tchaikovsky Symphony No 5
String Workshop for Cardinal Allen Pupils
May 2014
... an invaluable opportuity to play alongside experienced players.
Families enjoyed an informal concert of
Popcorn Pizza
Glenorchy Grizzle
Russian Rumpus
2012-2013
Stephanie Tress
(Cello)
(Violin)
2011-2012
Polovtsian Dances from A Night at the Opera
with Preston Opera November 2017
Last Night at the Proms September 2019