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Ulster Orchestra

@ulsterorchestra.bsky.social

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Northern Ireland's only professional symphony orchestra whose mission is to enrich lives through music. ulsterorchestra.org.uk

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · Jun 20

Our 2025/26 concerts are now on sale. ✨

What will you hear?

Notes full of drama, notes that bring peace, notes that paint landscapes; notes of myth and legend, notes filled with emotion...

Every Note Tells a Story.

Explore our new season of concerts and book your tickets.
buff.ly/2iRmCEk

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 22h

Streaming platforms are all very well, but sometimes you just can't beat the experience of being in a large room with others enjoying something you love. Join us on Saturday at the Waterfront Hall for an unforgettable night of movie music.

See the full set list + book your tickets: buff.ly/rofFEQ1

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 1d

We are thrilled to welcome Guylaine Eckersley to the orchestra's woodwind department as our new section lead bassoonist.
You can see Guylaine's opening concert as a permanent member of the Ulster Orchestra on Friday 10 October, 7.45pm in the Ulster Hall, Belfast.

Book tickets: buff.ly/l6Lryac

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 1d

We chatted with composer Amelia Clarkson ahead of the Friday evening première of The Rain Keeps Coming.

Our thanks to the Vaughan Williams Foundation and the Ulster Orchestra Foundation for supporting the commission of The Rain Keeps Coming. @cmcireland.bsky.social

🎫: buff.ly/TpdfPl8

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 3d

📣 Applications for Come & Play 2026 are now open.

Come & Play gives aspiring amateur musicians of all ages from Grade 3 onwards the chance to come and play with the Ulster Orchestra for a day.

Find out more on our website. Applications close 14 Nov.
buff.ly/BZcA55i

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 3d

Tchaikovsky's 4th was the first symphony our second violin player Sarah White ever played at age 15, and she still remembers every note. Which is handy, because we're playing it this Friday in the Ulster Hall.

Book your tickets: buff.ly/l6Lryac

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 4d

Hear music from some of the greatest blockbusters of all time performed live by the Ulster Orchestra for ONE NIGHT ONLY next Saturday night at the Waterfront Hall.

See the full set list and book your tickets on our website: buff.ly/rofFEQ1

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 5d

Did you know that our home in Townsend St was intended to have a spire which was never completed?

We're beginning development to restore the building and we'd love your views.

Fill in our short form before 17 October for a chance of winning a pair of concert tickets.

buff.ly/FLTXRaS

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 6d

We're looking forward to making our first ever appearance at An Carn, Maghera this Saturday, with a concert hosted in English and as Gaeilge, with a special appearance by multi-instrumentalist and singer Jack Warnock.

Book tickets via our website: buff.ly/Mgu7IqU

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 7d

We're LIVE NOW on BBC Radio 3's Classical Live 🔊

Listen: buff.ly/HJthbOh

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 7d

Pianist Vadym Kholodenko joins us at our next season concert on 10 October to perform Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto No.5.

Here's a clip from Vadym's performance with us in 2023, where he performed Bartók's 3rd Piano Concerto.

Get your tickets: buff.ly/NeIGcps

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 8d

Turn on BBC Radio 3 tomorrow afternoon to hear the Orchestra with conductor Jack Sheen performing live from the Ulster Hall with music by Satie, Wagner and Stravinsky.

🔊 buff.ly/HJthbOh

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 9d

We are officially back for our new season, and on Friday night we held our opening concert in the Ulster Hall, featuring Laura van der Heijden performing Saint-Saëns' beautiful Cello Concerto No.1. Anna Sułkowska-Migoń also conducted the Orchestra in Stravinsky's magical Firebird Suite 🐦‍🔥 and more.

Femme presenting person in formal evening wear plays cello passionately with closed eyes. Other musicians behind also play string instruments.

Wideshot of full, grand concert hall. Orchestra sit on lit stage and audience below and in balconies above (all in shadow) watch on in grand hall with organ behind the orchestra and chandeliers on the ceiling. The architecture is very grand and detailed.

Musicians all in black formal clothing stand with conductor (also in black formal clothing) or raised platform taking applause after a performance.

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 10d

On this week's Classical Connections, composer Amelia Clarkson spoke to John Toal about her new piece, 'The Rain Keeps Coming' – an Ulster Orchestra commission that we will premiere at our next season concert on 10 October.

🔊 buff.ly/iFvDmbO
(Interview begins at around 40 mins)

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 12d

Next Saturday, musicians from the Ulster Orchestra are delighted to make their first ever appearance at An Carn, Maghera, with a concert hosted in English and as Gaeilge, with a special appearance by multi-instrumentalist and singer Jack Warnock.

Book tickets: buff.ly/tMgAycT

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 12d

30 seconds of cellist Laura van der Heijden performing Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No.1 with the Ulster Orchestra at the opening concert of our 2025/26 Season in the Ulster Hall, Belfast this evening. Conducted by Anna Sułkowska-Migoń.

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 13d

Join us tomorrow at 7.00pm in the Ulster Hall for a chat with our Artistic Director Patrick McCarthy & Marketing Manager Miriam Crozier. Look for the speech bubble symbol in our season brochure & website to see which concerts include a pre-concert talk.

Book tickets for the concert: buff.ly/g4pNILt

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 14d

Stravinsky's 'Firebird' Suite has been popular since its debut in 1910, but what is a Firebird? And what is its connection to pop music? Find out in our video.

Hear 'The Firebird' Suite performed live on Friday in the Ulster Hall. Book tickets: buff.ly/wDQXqMh

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 16d

We are delighted to welcome Mark Taylor to the Ulster Orchestra in the position of Section Lead Flute. We invite you to join us in welcoming Mark for his first performance as a member of our woodwind section in our Myths and Magic concert, on Friday 26 September.

🎫: buff.ly/IfbXEet

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 16d

Culture Night Belfast returned last Friday for the first time in four years and we were thrilled to be a part of the more than 100 free events around the city. Thank you to the organisers, venues and everyone who joined us. We hope enjoyed a wide selection of the culture Belfast has to offer.

Crowd gathers to watch three musicians playing French horn in outside setting with large buildings of an old fashioned architectural style surrounding and a green lawn and modern buildings in the background.

two musicians in casual black clothing play double bass in a lit bar setting, behind them there are drinks fridges and shelves with board games stacked.

Crowd gathers in a green dimly lit bar to watch two musicians in casual black clothing play double bass in a lit bar setting.

Three musicians in black clothing playing in an open, public space with grand buildings behind them. All three play French horns.

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 18d

Stravinsky's 'The Firebird', which we're performing this Friday, is an established orchestral staple. But what is it like to play for the first time?

Ulster Orchestra's Leader, Ioana Petcu-Colan, tells us about her first Firebird.

Book your tickets: buff.ly/wDQXqMh

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 19d

Thank you to everyone who popped in to our home on Townsend Street last Saturday for our European Heritage Open Days event to hear about the history of the building and the area from Francis Higgins and Jennifer Geoffroy, and to enjoy music from harpist Maria McNamee. #EHOD2025

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 19d

There's just ONE WEEK until our first concert of the season.

Join us for a programme inspired by myths and magic, including Stravinsky's iconic 'Firebird'. Cellist Laura van der Heijden also performs Saint-Saëns' exhilarating Cello Concert No.1. Anna Sułkovska-Migoń conducts.

🎟️: buff.ly/TLmAFeE

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 20d

Where to find our musicians on Culture Night 🔎🎶

Culture Night Belfast is tomorrow and amongst the 100+ free events taking place around the city, you'll find musicians from the Ulster Orchestra popping up at Belfast City Hall, Boundary Taproom, and The John Hewitt.

#CNB25 #culturenightbelfast

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 21d

"It's such an effective and exciting piece of music ... It feels like scene changes when the mood changes."

Cellist Laura van der Heijden joins us for the opening concert of our new season on Friday 26 September, where she performs Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No.1.

Book tickets: buff.ly/YlJlPv9

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Ulster Orchestra @ulsterorchestra.bsky.social · 22d

On Saturday, conductor Anna Handler made her debut on the island of Ireland with the Ulster Orchestra in the Guildhall, Derry~Londonderry, in a performance featuring Selections from Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake', Haydn's Symphony No.49 'La Passione' & Brahms's 'Tragic' Overture.

@dornmusic.bsky.social

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