Rehearsal Orchestra
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rehorch.bsky.social
Rehearsal Orchestra
@rehorch.bsky.social
380 followers 320 following 70 posts
We run orchestral courses for future professionals and serious amateurs in the UK. Going ROgue since 1957!
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rehorch.bsky.social
Introducing Benjamin Draper: meet the young conductors taking part in our Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 conducting workshop this Sunday.
www.rehearsal-orchestra.org/about/latest...
A half-portrait of Benjamin Draper in an urban street, holding his baton upside down by the tip, seemingly contemplating it. He is wearing a loose bright red shirt, top button open, with a white T-shirt underneath. There are some out-of-focus flowers in a planter in the foreground, and some graffiti on a wall in the background.
November 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
Introducing Yi-Chuan Chen: meet the young conductors taking part in our Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 conducting workshop this Sunday.
www.rehearsal-orchestra.org/about/latest...
A sideways half-portrait of Yi-Chuan Chen. His left elbow rests on his thigh, and his chin on his hand, which holds the baton, downwards, in a casual grip. His face, hand and shirt front are lit by a light source from the right, in dramatic contrast to the shadow created elsewhere and dark grey background.
November 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
rehorch.bsky.social
Introducing Giuseppe Stillitano: meet the young conductors taking part in our Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 conducting workshop this Sunday.
www.rehearsal-orchestra.org/about/latest...
A photo portrait of conductor Giuseppe Stillitano, leaning towards the camera over a polished dark wood table in an eighteenth-century Italian interior. His baton rests on the table in front of him, near his right hand. His left hand is raised, index finger across his right cheek. He is is gazing directly into the camera. He is wearing an ink blue suit with a crisp white shirt and a bow tie. The frame of his glasses picks up the honey shades of the background.
November 3, 2025 at 10:07 AM
rehorch.bsky.social
Introducing Wooju Baik: Meet the young conductors taking part in our Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 conducting workshop next Sunday
www.rehearsal-orchestra.org/about/latest...
Headshot of Wooju Baik, dressed in all-black turtleneck jumper against a grey background. He is facing the camera directly, but is looking to his right with a very sideways glance.
November 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
Our shiny new website is here - and so is our shiny new weekend course season! Applications are open, so be sure to send in yours now! www.rehearsal-orchestra.org

Huge thanks to all the brilliant people at Wild Dog Design with whom we've been working on the new site over the past year!
A screenshot of the top of the homepage: Welcome to the Rehearsal Orchestra. Learn more about us. Develop your skills on a Rehearsal Orchestra course. The main purpose of all our activities is, our name implies, the process of rehearsal. Whether you're current or recent student, retired professional or a fine amateur player... "I recommend the RO to anyone looking to learn orchestral parts in a professional-style environment. It's so well run it feels like sitting in a professional orchestra but the conductors always smile!"
October 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO HELP US WIN! £5,000 would make a huge difference to our work in nurturing orchestral musicians. It could fund our Play ON and Co-Principal bursary schemes for a year – or cover most of our annual music and instrument hire costs.
culture.movementforgood.com/index.php?cn...
A music-themed graphic with the text: "Charities supporting Arts and Culture Special Draw. Open 10-19 October 2025. Please nominate us to receive £5,000 - it only takes a minute and can make a huge difference! culture.movementforgood.com Movement for Good. Benefact Group."
October 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
And just like that, our Edinburgh week 2025 is nearly over!
But you can see Rehearsal Orchestra at work in tomorrow's Open Rehearsal:

Friday 8th August, 2pm-4pm in the School Hall, George Heriot's School, Lauriston Place (entry via The Vennel gate), Edinburgh EH3 9EQ. WELCOME!
FREE ADMISSION

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Orchestra in rehearsal in a hall with a dark high ceiling and rows of bright spotlights. The conductor standing on the podium, with both his arms raised high, turned towards the violins and horns. In the foreground is a harpist and violinists seen from behind.
August 7, 2025 at 7:55 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
LAST-MINUTE PLACE: HARP! Our annual Edinburgh course from this Saturday 2nd August to Friday 8th August (leaving Saturday morning). Accommodation is available.

It's a week of amazing repertoire (full list for harp and more information in thread).

Thanks for sharing!
A harpist's hands playing.
July 31, 2025 at 11:15 AM
rehorch.bsky.social
A fortnight ago we shunned the London sunshine and closed our weekend-course season with musical trips to two other capital cities in Duke Ellington's Harlem & Gershwin's An American in Paris, with Artistic Director @levparikian.bsky.social as our guide - and what a fantastic journey it was!
A view of the orchestra during the open rehearsal, pictured from the First Violin side - some dynamic bowing in progress! Artistic Director Lev Parikian conducting from the podium, cueing with his left hand. A close view of the car horn player in Gershwin's An American in Paris. A view of the whole orchestra from the gallery, above the double basses. A view of the woodwind and brass sections, with saxophones in the foreground.
July 13, 2025 at 8:48 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
If you haven't already nominated RO for the Benefact Group's 2025 Movement for Good regular draws, now is the perfect time - £2,000 would be a massive help to our charitable work in nurturing orchestral musicians. It's very quick and easy to nominate!
👉 movementforgood.com/index.php?cn...
A rocket graphic, with the text "We're doubling the money in our next draw." Logos for the Benefact Group and their Movement for Good.
July 10, 2025 at 9:41 AM
rehorch.bsky.social
A DOUBLE BASS has had to withdraw on short notice from this Sunday's course on Ellington HARLEM and Gershwin AN AMERICAN IN PARIS in central London (Henry Wood Hall) - could you join us? Get in touch!
👉 www.rehearsal-orchestra.org/courses#cour...
Two double-bass players at rehearsal, discussing a musical point in their part during a break in play.
June 27, 2025 at 10:21 AM
rehorch.bsky.social
We still have a vacancy for a TENOR TROMBONE for our Ellington & Gershwin course in central London this Sunday (29th). We can also fit in a few more STRINGS (if you're quick) - get in touch now!
Some student bursary funding is available.
👉 www.rehearsal-orchestra.org/courses#cour...
Three student trombonists playing in an orchestra.
June 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
Sharing conducting duties at our Edinburgh residential course this August is Johann Stuckenbruck, announced last week as the new Music Director of l’Orchestre Symphonique du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean (OSSLSJ) from 2025/26!
jstuckenbruck.com
A half-portrait photo of Johann Stuckenbruck, showing him during an intensely internal moment whilst conducting, eyes closed, hands drawing in to gather momentum. He is wearing a black shirt against a dark blue background, a spotlight creating a chiaroscuro effect on his features and clothing.
June 15, 2025 at 11:51 AM
rehorch.bsky.social
We currently have a few vacancies for STRINGS on Sunday 29th June (in central London): a great opportunity to study Duke Ellington's Harlem and Gershwin's An American in Paris, two exciting and atmospheric 'city' pieces written three decades apart!

APPLY NOW rehearsal-orchestra.org/courses#cour...
Two cellists chatting cheerfully during a break in play, both of their instruments resting against their bodies, one of them gesticulating with their hand, blurred in motion.
June 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
A few more photos from last weekend's Symphonic Dances course in sunny Manchester, conducted by the fantastic Stephen Bell. And such a treat and privilege to have composer Edward Longstaff with us to introduce his piece (as well as join the cello section). What a brilliant day we had!
The strings, pictures from the back of the cello section, playing with focus and decisive bows. Composer Edward Longstaff introducing his piece to the Open Rehearsal attendees. Conductor Stephen Bell and the orchestra are also clearly entertained by the story behind it. The two very long rows of woodwind and brass required for Rachmaninov and Longstaff, pictured from the horn end. The long row of percussionists (and percussion instruments!) pictured from behind, at the timpani end. The copper of the timpani shines warmly.
May 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
Like last year, Manchester greets us with glorious sunshine - one could get the impression that it’s always like this… 😉
Hallé St Peter’s in the blazing mid-morning sun. Rehearsal Orchestra in rehearsal at Hallé St Peter’s. Sunshine streams in through the high windows, creating patches of light on the floor.
May 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
Last-minute places for a viola and a double-bass have just become available for our course in Manchester tomorrow (Sunday 11th May) - Symphonic Dances by Rachmaninov and Longstaff. Get in touch if you’d like to play!
rehearsal-orchestra.org/courses
A viola player at rehearsal.
May 10, 2025 at 12:43 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
For our course in Manchester tomorrow, we are pairing Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances with the central movement of Edward Longstaff’s piece of the same name. ‘Reach for the moon’ celebrates the “power of the creative spirit to imagine new and better worlds”.
www.edwardlongstaff.com/five-symphon...
A headshot of composer Edward Longstaff, in soft light. He is looking off-camera with a quiet smile, as though reminiscing about something.
May 10, 2025 at 10:20 AM
rehorch.bsky.social
TUBA VACANCY! We're looking for a tuba player for our course in Manchester this Sunday 11 May. We'll be working on Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, alongside a movement from Edward Longstaff's composition of the same name, conducted by the Hallé's Stephen Bell.
rehearsal-orchestra.org/courses#cour...
A tuba player, pictured over their shoulder, playing on a Rehearsal Orchestra course.
May 7, 2025 at 8:42 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
Many happy returns to RO Artistic Director @levparikian.bsky.social!
Lev in rehearsal (Edinburgh 2022).
April 27, 2025 at 7:36 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
We're only halfway through the season, so it's not too late to gain new orchestral skills with us! You can join us in three different cities: Manchester, London and Edinburgh.
For full information and to apply 👉 rehearsal-orchestra.org/courses
Summary of repertoire and current vacancies below.
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A student violinist on the Edinburgh course, playing with concentration.
April 22, 2025 at 12:23 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
Our April course last weekend was only the 10th time *EVER* that Leokadiya Kashperova's gem of a Symphony in B minor (1905) has been played. Brilliant to have had conductor Tess Jackson guide us through it, and a privilege to have had Dr Graham Griffiths, who rediscovered the piece, in attendance.
Tess Jackson conducting on the podium, surrounded by the strings. Woodwind and horn sections, pictured from a high angle, in full blow. Close-up side view of the First Violins in rehearsal. Dr Graham Griffiths adressing the orchestra from the podium, with conductor Tess Jackson to the side.
April 14, 2025 at 5:48 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
This Sunday, in London, we welcome back conductor Tess Jackson who will head our course on Leokadiya Kashperova's gem of a Symphony in B minor.

Recently announced as a @classicfm.com ‘Rising Star’, Jackson is Associate Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra.

We can't wait!
Headshot of conductor Tess Jackson. Shot from a slightly raised angle, she is looking straight into the camera with an open gaze and the hint of a smile. She is wearing a terracotta jacket over a black top. The backround is mostly dark, but some out-of-focus foliage can be made out.
April 3, 2025 at 2:35 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
TENOR TROMBONES and VIOLINS! Our next course in London on Sunday 6th April still has places available. We'll be working on Kashperova's gem of a Symphony in B minor, conducted by the brilliant rising star Tess Jackson.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY:
rehearsal-orchestra.org/courses#cour...
Close-up photo of two trombonists playing in the orchestra, with a trumpet player beyond.
March 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
rehorch.bsky.social
An afternoon studying Britten’s music for Prince of the Pagodas with Alice Farnham - worth missing the sunshine for! 😉
A view of the orchestra in rehearsal, with harps and the back of the 1st Violins in the foreground. Sunlight glows even through the drawn curtains in the hall.
March 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM