Performing in HSSO gives the opportunity to develop confidence, and a range of orchestral skills across a varied repertoire whilst working with experienced conductors and sectional tutors.
2024-25 looks a bit different for HSSO than you might be used to in previous years. As we look ahead to the orchestra's involvement in the Hertfordshire Schools' Gala in March 2025, we have lots of exciting rehearsal opportunities in addition to courses in the October half term and summer holidays.
The Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra is an auditioned county-level ensemble. The sign up deadline for on time applications for the 2024/25 academic year is Friday 30 August 2024. After this, late applications are welcomed at any point during the year, although places are then subject to availability, and you may be placed on a waiting or reserve list.
Signing up before the deadline of 30 August ensures you have access to a full year of opportunities, any relevant membership discount(s), and the opportunity to apply for principal positions in our auditioned ensembles.
Summer 2024: Thursday 8 – Sunday 11 August 2024
'Summer of music from the screen'
We will be celebrating film and video game music in all its forms across all County ensembles, for our 2024 Summer courses.
More details to follow!
Easter Course 2024: Semi-staged production of Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt, featuring singers from the County Youth Choirs and young actors and director from Trestle School of Drama / Trestle Theatre. 10 - 13 April 2024. Concert programme also featured Finlandia by Sibelius and Three Movements for CoMA by Kate Whitley.
Christmas Course 2023: New Year's Concert, 27 - 30 December 2023, conducted by Patrick Bailey. Concert on 30 December at Haileybury Big School Auditorium. Repertoire included Coleridge-Taylor 'Dance' from Othello Suite, Marquez Conga Del Fuego Nuevo, and Weir 'Music, Spread Thy Voice'.
Summer Tour 2023: Sunday 20 to Saturday 26 August Tour to the Loire Valley, France with the members from the Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra and Hertfordshire Schools' Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Peter Stark.
First two days consisted of rehearsals in Hertfordshire, and three concerts in the Loire Valley at the following venues: Cathédrale de Saint-Louis de Blois, Eglise Saint Julien (Tours), and Chateau de la Selles sur Cher.
Tour repertoire:
Paul Dukas - La Péri Fanfare
Léo Delibes - Entr’act & Waltz, Prelude & Mazurka, and Czardas from Coppélia
Frederick Delius - Intermezzo from The Walk to the Paradise Garden
Antonín Dvořák - Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, "From the New World", Op. 95
Edward Elgar - Nimrod from Enigma Variations [encore]
2023 Hertfordshire Schools' Gala: Sunday 30th April 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall
HSSO Easter Course: Wednesday 13th to Thursday 14th April 2023 at Stevenage Music Centre. Gala repertoire rehearsals
Christmas Course 2022: 21-23 December at Haileybury College. Selections from Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker', Three Holiday Songs from 'Home Alone' (John Williams)
Summer Course 2022: 22-26 August at Haileybury College. Kurt Weill Symphony no. 2, as well as original songs by Hertfordshire rock bands, arranged for the orchestra.
Spring Course 2022: 5-8 April at St Clement Danes School. Repertoire including, Beethoven's Eroica and El amor brujo by Manuel da Falla.
Summer Course 2021: 23-26 August at St Clement Danes School with a concert on 26 August at 5pm
Hertfordshire Schools' GALA 2020 8th March at 1.45pm and 7.45pm at the Royal Albert Hall
CONCERT - 23rd December 2019 at 5pm, Haileybury College
Conductor Chloe van Soeterstede
Mussorgsky Night on a Bare Mountain
Elgar Enigma Variations: Nimrod
Dvorak Symphony No. 8 (Finale)
Rehearsals - 21st-23rd December 2019 at Haileybury College
Tour to the Rhineland - 1st - 5th August 2019
Conductor Chloe van Soeterstede
Mozart Marriage of Figaro overture
Beethoven Coriolan overture
Verdi Traviata Prelude Act 1
Verdi Traviata Prelude Act 3
Bizet Arr. Stone Farandole (L'Arlesienne)
Bizet Arr. Stone Carillon (L'Arlesienne)
Rossini Italian in Algiers overture
Grieg Morning from Peer Gynt
Beethoven Symphony no.3, mvt 2
Course - 29th - 31st July 2019, at Mid Herts Centre for Music & Arts
CONCERT - 17th April 2019 at 7pm, Haileybury College, Hertford
Conductor Ben Glassberg
Curtis Fiesta
Sibelius Karelia Suite
Dvorak Symphony No. 8
Course - 14th-17th April 2019, at Haileybury College, Hertford
CONCERT - 23rd December 2018 at 3pm, Haileybury College, Hertford (joint with CYO)
Conductor Ben Glassberg
Tchaikovsky Overture from Romeo and Juliet
Prokofiev Troika from Lieutenant Kije
Bartok Rumanian Folk Dances
Course - 21st-22nd December 2018, at Haileybury College, Hertford
CONCERT - 31st August 2018 at 7pm, St Mary's Church, Hitchin
Conductor Ben Glassberg
Joan Tower Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman
Elgar Cello Concerto
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
Summer Course - 28th-31st August 2018, Residential at Purcell School, Bushey
Hertfordshire Schools' GALA 2018 11th March at 1.45pm and 7.45pm at the Royal Albert Hall
CONCERT - 23rd December 2017 at 7pm, Haileybury College, Hertford
Conductor Ben Glassberg
William Walton Richard III Prelude
Joby Talbot Hovercraft
Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite
Nigel Hess Christmas Overture
Autumn Course - 20th-23rd December 2017 at Haileybury College, Hertford
CONCERT - 23rd August 2017 at 7.30pm, Weston Auditorium, University of Hertfordshire
Conductor Ben Glassberg
Arnold Four Cornish Dances
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue - Soloist Kira Frohlu
Vaughan Williams Job: A Masque for Dancing
Summer Course - 19th-22nd August 2017 , Residential at Haileybury College, Hertford
CONCERT - 13th April 2017 at 7.30pm, Barbirolli Hall, Chorleywood
Conductors Ben Glassberg & Peter Stark
Rimsky Korsakov Russian Easter Festival Overture
Barber Adagio for Strings
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Elgar In the South
Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Spring Course 10th-13th April 2017 as part of a joint course with the County Youth Orchestra and Hertfordshire Schools' Symphony Orchestra