New Musical Era for Sheffield Orchestra

International classical soloist Laurence Perkins has just been appointed as the Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of Sheffield Chamber Orchestra (SCO). Perkins has a worldwide reputation for his chart-topping solo bassoon recordings for the Hyperion record label, alongside his regional work as Principal Bassoonist of Manchester Camerata between 1974 and 2017.

This is the first time that SCO has appointed an Artistic Director, a role which Perkins welcomes as an important part of his commitment and enthusiasm for amateur music-making. “The word ‘amateur’ means ‘for the love of’” says Perkins. “I really value the passion and dedication that the SCO members show in their playing, and I’m really looking forward to exploring the incredibly rich, varied and exciting music for chamber orchestra, working at the highest level.”

The first SCO concert with Perkins in his new role is on Saturday 30th November in All Saints Church, Ecclesall. Entitled ‘Sheffield Music Makers’, he has devised a wide-ranging programme which features each section of the orchestra. The only soloist in this concert is the leader of SCO, Ralph Dawson, who is playing a delightful Romance by the 19th century Norwegian composer Johan Svendsen. The strings feature in Tchaikovsky’s evocative musical portrait of the city of Florence, the winds in exotic music by Caplet, the brass in the ever-popular ‘Water Music’ by Handel, and the full orchestra in classics by Rossini, Elgar, Rachmaninov and Mozart.