St Botolph’s Music Society
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sbms.org.uk
St Botolph’s Music Society
@sbms.org.uk
🎻 Orchestra based in Colchester, Essex, UK
🎺 Founded in 1966
🎼 Concerts held in St Botolph’s Church
🎶 Not-for-profit organisation
🌍 sbms.org.uk
Reminder: no rehearsal this evening!

This is the first week of our Christmas break. We'll be returning in the New Year.
December 11, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Family Film Concert

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of music and magic as SBMS brings the silver screen to life! Packed with blockbuster favourites and iconic scores.

📅 Saturday, 7 February 2026
🕢 7:30pm
⛪️ St Botolph’s Church, Colchester

🎫 Tickets: sbms.org.uk/event/family...
December 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Hello Thursday! It's rehearsal day!

This evening we'll be looking at the music we didn't get to have a first play of last week, with hopefully a closer look at Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Tonight is also the final rehearsal before Christmas. 🎄
December 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
🔔🎄 Join us on Sunday, 21 December at 10:30am in St Botolph's Church, as we provide music for the church's Christmas Make Room Carol Service.

All are welcome, no tickets required. Donations to the church gratefully received via donation points within the church. 🎺⛪

sbms.org.uk/event/make-r...
December 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Hello Thursday! It’s rehearsal day today!

It’s also our AGM, which we’ll hold first (starting at the usual time of 7:30pm). We hope the official business will last just 30mins max, before having a first look at the next concert’s programme.
November 27, 2025 at 3:46 PM
This wonderful selection of clips from our concert on Saturday was sent to us by an audience member.

📽️ Video credit: Patrick Kilbey

#ALittleEnglishConcert #StBotolphsMusicSociety #SBMS #StBotolphsChurch #Colchester #ColchesterMusicians #ColchesterMusic #ColchesterLife #SupportLocalMusic
November 24, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Thank you to all who came to our concert this evening!

From Warlock’s Capriol Suite, to Vaughan Williams, Holst, & ending with Walton’s Crown Imperial. It was a wonderful evening of folksong revivalists.

Our next concert is on 7 February 2026, a Family Film Concert. More info on our website.
November 23, 2025 at 12:06 AM
It's concert day! 🎺

In just a few hours time, the musicians of SBMS will be back at St Botolph's Church for the last rehearsal before this evening's concert!

🎫 Hurry! Tickets are available online until midday today! sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
November 22, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Just over 24 hours to go until our next concert, A Little English Concert! With pieces from Holst, Vaughan Williams, Warlock, and Walton, there’ll be something everyone will enjoy.

🎫 Tickets are available on our website until midday Saturday, 22 November: sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
November 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Hello Thursday! It’s rehearsal day today!

It’s also our last Thursday rehearsal before concert day on Saturday. We’ll be back in the church this evening too!

Tickets are still available for A Little English Concert on our website until midday on Saturday.

sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
November 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Born in 1894, Peter Warlock was a pseudonym Philip Heseltine used for all published works.

Capriol Suite is a set of dances composed in 1926. They were based on tunes in Thoinot Arbeau's Orchésographie.

SBMS will play this on Sat, 22 November.

🎫 Tickets: sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
A Little English Concert - St Botolph's Music Society
Join us for an evocative concert of quintessentially English classical music, featuring beloved works by Holst, Vaughan Williams, Walton, Arnold, and more.
sbms.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Hello Thursday! It’s rehearsal day!

Just 2 Thursday rehearsals to go until our concert on 22 November, A Little English Concert.

🎫 Tickets available: sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
November 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Sir William Walton was an English composer from Oldham.

With Elgar having died in 1934, it was to Walton the authorities turned to compose a march for the coronation of George VI. Crown Imperial was the result.

We will play this on 22 Nov.

🎫 For more info and tickets: sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
November 12, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Hello Thursday! It’s rehearsal day today!

It’s also just 3 Thursday rehearsals until our next concert, A Little English Concert.

🎫 Tickets: sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
November 6, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Vaughan Williams was an English composer influenced by English folk song and Tudor music.

This couldn't be more obvious than in 'Fantasia on Greensleeves' where he used the well-known C16th folk song.

We’ll be performing this on 22 Nov at A Little English Concert.

🎫 sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
November 5, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Holst’s 'First Suite in E♭ for Military Band' was written in 1911. It was the first piece to convince other composers that serious music could be composed for bands.

Gordon Jacob later transcribed it for full orchestra. SBMS will be performing this on 22 Nov.

🎫 Tickets: sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
October 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Hello Thursday! It's rehearsal day!

In just a few hours the SBMS musicians will be back rehearsing for our English-themed concert. This is also the last rehearsal before the half term break.
October 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
It’s just 1 month until A Little English Concert!

Tickets available from: sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
October 22, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Hello Thursday! It's rehearsal day again!

With the weather turning cooler now for autumn, we'll be assessing the temperature of the church for rehearsals as we go. So, keep an eye out to see if we might be in the church hall at the rear instead!
October 16, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Join us for an evening of quintessentially English music, featuring works by Holst, Vaughan Williams, Walton, and Elgar. This programme celebrates the rich musical heritage of England.

📅 Saturday, 22 November 2025
🕢 7:30pm
⛪️ St Botolph’s Church, Colchester

🎫 Tickets: sbms.org.uk/event/a-litt...
October 13, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Hello Thursday! It's rehearsal day!

We'll be following on from last week's good work on our English-theme concert programme, continuing to take a closer look at the pieces.
October 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Become a Friend of SBMS today! For just £50 you get:

🎼 Admittance into each concert during the 2025-26 season
🎻 A reserved seat in your name
🎶 Regular exclusive behind-the-scenes news
🎺 A VIP invite to one of our rehearsals, with your chance to meet the musicians

Buy now: sbms.org.uk/support-us
October 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Hello Thursday! It’s rehearsal day!

It’s our third rehearsal back this term, and we’ve already had a first look at our programme over the past 2 weeks. Now we start to get into the details! All for our English-themed concert in November.
October 2, 2025 at 9:08 AM
This Sunday, come and sing your favourite hymns with a live orchestra!

📆Sunday, 5 October 2025
🕡6:30pm
⛪️St Botolph’s Church, Colchester

Entry is free, all welcome.

Brought to you by St Botolph’s Church and St Botolph’s Music Society.

This event is not ticketed. Donations to St Botolph’s Church.
October 1, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Hello Thursday! It's rehearsal day!

We'll be back this evening continuing to get to know our programme of music by English composers.
September 25, 2025 at 1:17 PM