Symphonia Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Finlay Cooper
Manager: Wilf Patten
Symphonia Symphony is the only full size student-run orchestra at the university, playing a vast variety of repertoire. In the last few years, this included Dvořák's Symphony No. 7 and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6.
The orchestra is a tight-knit family of musicians and we encourage everyone to attend our regular fun socials, including post-rehearsal wind downs.
We rehearse for 2 hours each week (Thursdays 7-9pm, Carpenter Rooms, Bristol SU) and perform at least three concerts per year.
Our esteemed annual concerto and composition competitions also offer special opportunities for individual musicians to showcase their talent. If you would like to be a part of a student-led orchestra, make new friends, and play exciting music, this orchestra is for you.
Auditions for woodwinds and brass take place at the start of each academic year.
Previous Conductors:
George Owen 2024-2026
Caleb Kernaghan 2023-2024
Dominic Lipari 2022-2023
Caleb Kernaghan 2021-2022
Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Lucas Dick
Manager: Aiko Hoshiko
The Symphonia Philharmonic Orchestra is the University of Bristol’s only completely unauditioned full-sized orchestra. We welcome everyone, no matter their instrumental proficiency, to perform a wide range of orchestral favourites as part of a quality orchestra, without the pressure of auditions and intensive practice schedules.
In recent years we have played Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite, Hans Zimmer’s music from the Gladiator soundtrack and selections from the Howl's Moving Castle, Wicked and Harry Potter. We rehearse on Tuesday evenings and perform at least three concerts a year. Our 2021 Christmas concert on the theme "Love and Heartbreak" was an incredibly successful collaboration with Bristol University Operatic Society, offering our players the chance to try out some new, interesting repertoire and perform alongside vocal soloists.
For a relaxed opportunity to play music and make friends, we'd love to see you at Symphonia's Philharmonic Orchestra!
Symphonia Philharmonic currently rehearses for two hours a week at the Bristol SU (Tuedays 5-7pm, Anson Rooms, Bristol SU). No audition necessary, just come along!
Previous Conductors
Caleb Kernaghan (June 2024- June 2025)
Felicity Lewis (June 2023- June 2024)
David Simkins (June 2022- June 2023)
Heidi Hooper (Oct 2021- June 2022)
Boko Zhelev (Sept 2019- Oct 2021)
