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Langtree Sinfonia is an amateur orchestra which meets at Langtree School, Woodcote, on the borders of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, originally formed in 1971. Many members have either started playing as adults, or have taken up their instruments again, having learned when younger. The orchestra has about 30 registered members, although extra players are co-opted when needed for bigger works. Our Director of Music is Kevin Withell. Concerts are given twice a year – a classical programme in November and a more ambitious romantic event in May or June. Concerts are held at churches in various locations including Wallingford, Henley, Abingdon and Caversham.
In addition a full day’s workshop is held in February or March. We welcome players outside of the orchestra to join in. At the end of the autumn and summer terms we usually hold a social event for families and Friends of the Orchestra, which includes a short performance.
If you play an orchestral instrument and would be interested in joining the Orchestra, or would like further information, please click here for details. Auditions are not required.
Conductor
Kevin Withell
Kevin read music at University of Southampton, excelling in conducting as well as completing a dissertation on music composed during the Holocaust. He remained in Southampton to complete a Masters in orchestral conducting. During his studies at University of Southampton, Kevin was awarded the prestigious positions of assistant conductor of both Southampton University Symphony Orchestra and Southampton University Sinfonietta.
As well as Langtree Sinfonia, Kevin is musical director of Southampton Youth Orchestra, Southampton University Concert Band and Southampton University String Orchestra, and is in regular demand to conduct rehearsals and sectionals with City of Southampton Orchestra, Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra, Charity Symphony Orchestra and London Gay Symphony Orchestra, as well performing in the brass or percussion sections of several orchestras around the Hampshire and Sussex area.
Leader
Stephen Nurse
Steve became orchestral leader of the Langtree Sinfonia in October 2022, and regularly performs with other ensembles in Oxford, Hertford, Aylesbury, and Tring. He began learning violin aged 5 with the Suzuki Method under Elaine Bonner.
He later attended the Birmingham Junior Conservatoire, before studying Music and French at the University of Bristol, taking lessons from Roger Huckle. He also spent three years with the National Children’s Orchestra, then six years with the National Youth String Orchestra.
As a soloist, Steve’s projects have included the Bach Double Violin Concerto in Magdalen College Chapel, and Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in Bristol’s Victoria Rooms.
He also has extensive experience as a concertmaster: one year with the Bristol University Chamber Orchestra, a semester with L’Orchestre Universitaire de Bordeaux, and two years with the Bristol University Symphony Orchestra. His particular highlight of the latter was a thrilling performance of Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony, not long before the COVID pandemic disrupted many music-making activities.
Having crossed paths with conductor Kevin through Langtree, they collaborated over a highly successful performance of Rimskey-Korsakov’s Scheherazade in January 2024, with Steve as the soloist. Currently studying violin under Paul Barritt, Steve was soloist with Langtree Sinfonia playing Lark Ascending in May 2024 to much acclaim.