Founded in January 2022, South West Baroque Orchestra is the period instrument orchestra of the South West. We play Baroque music to a high standard and perform concerts throughout the region, particularly in areas which do not usually have concerts of Early Music. Members travel far and wide to play music together and come from Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Bristol and Gloucestershire.
SWBO has performed at Wells, Exeter and Truro Cathedrals, and also at Sherborne Abbey. Elsewhere, Afternoon Tea Concerts are a speciality! Our last concert was an Afternoon Concert at The Shrubbery Hotel in Ilminster with bass singer Alan Rowland and oboist Zoë Cartland.
“The concert held at The Shrubbery Hotel was a delight: the balance of the programme between orchestral pieces (e.g. the sprightly Telemann) which got my feet tapping , and those which included the two very talented soloists was just right… as was the length of the performance (and no interval: perfect) ! Thank you, everyone. Best wishes, Mary.”
Audience comment about South West Baroque Orchestra’s inaugural concert on 6 July at Wells Cathedral:
“The opening bars of your first piece today were pure magic. They filled the space above you with music that melted into the architecture above. The audience was spellbound which is why you got the applause after the first movement. It was the most beautiful weaving of sound into space. I shall treasure it.”
Sponsors, Friends & Patrons
We are lucky to have Rondo Publishing as a sponsor for the orchestra but we are also looking for people and other sponsors to help support the orchestra. If you are able to help the orchestra in this way, please contact us. We also run a Friends’ Scheme which entitles members to priority ticket bookings, invitations to additional concerts given by members of the orchestra and your name mentioned in concert programmes. Please contact SWBO for further details.
