About the Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra

The SPO began life as the Surrey String Players in 1932 when it was founded by Kathleen Riddick. In 1945 it expanded to become the Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra. Throughout its history many international artists have appeared with the SPO, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Jacqueline du Pré, Paul Tortellier, Nigel Kennedy and Evelyn Glennie.

Today the orchestra has as its Musical Director and Conductor Jonathan Butcher who has been with the orchestra since 1985. The SPO became renowned for its innovative programming at an early stage in its history and this has continued to be a feature to the present day. On two occasions the SPO has been the recipient of a Performing Right Society National Federation of Music Societies Enterprise Award and has organised two very successful Composers' Days at the University of Surrey. In 2002 the SPO joined forces with many local school children to perform "Town and Country" by Barry Russell at Dorking Halls. This very successful event was masterminded by Dr Joan Rippon who was our President during the 2005 - 2006 Season.

During our 75th Season we were very honoured to have as our President Mrs Ursula Vaughan Williams. This is particularly appropriate at this important milestone in our history as Dr. R. Vaughan Williams O.M. was our first president in the 1945 - 1946 season.

The SPO is delighted that Roy Douglas has very kindly accepted the orchestra's invitation to be our President in our 77th Season during 2008/2009. Roy was musical assistant to Ralph Vaughan Williams for many years until Vaughan Williams died in 1958.

Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra is now an Amazon Associate.This means that the orchestra will gain a small amount of money from Amazon every time someone accesses and shops on the Amazon site from the SPO site.If you do shop on Amazon.co.uk would you please use the link below to the Amazon website.

Thankyou.

Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra is Registered Charity No.: 1029543