The Orchestra
The Bridgewater Sinfonia is Berkhamsted’s own local orchestra. Formed of local professional musicians, the orchestra has been enriching the cultural life of Hertfordshire since 1997.
Performances are of the highest calibre and range from the great classics to new and less familiar works, offering that very special experience of live orchestral music.
Our History
The Bridgewater Sinfonia was founded in Berkhamsted in 1998, originally as the Bridgewater Band, by a group of local professional musicians under the directorship of Adrian Davis, with a vision to create “an orchestra from the community, for the community”.
The orchestra draws on the wealth of professional musicianship in the locality and also aims to offer performing opportunities for young student musicians on the threshold of their careers.
Since its first concert — when press reviews commented “it could have been the South Bank” — the Bridgewater Sinfonia has continued to offer symphonic concerts of the highest calibre, covering a wide spectrum of styles and periods, the great classics as well as unfamiliar and new works especially by British composers; all this in the intimate atmosphere of St Peter’s Church and at an accessible ticket price, as Berkhamsted’s own local orchestra. Audiences, players and soloists alike recognise this as a unique combination and enjoy the advantage of these uplifting concerts of live orchestral music on their doorstep.
In 2008 the Bridgewater Sinfonia celebrated its tenth anniversary season, with a gala concert on 7 June 2008. This coincided with the happy announcement of the appointment of Sir Andrew Davis as the Bridgewater Sinfonia’s Honorary Patron – a great honour and privilege for the orchestra as it looks to its next decade.
Bridgewater Sinfonia – live music in Berkhamsted
? Bridgewater Sinfonia has been Berkhamsted’s own orchestra for over 20 years.
Posted by Bridgewater Sinfonia on Saturday, 9 October 2021
Our Repertoire
Our concert programmes have included celebrated symphonic classics, including works by Dvořák, Mendelsson and Vaughan Williams, great concert choral works such as Bach’s B-minor Mass or Mozart’s Requiem, and newer compositions, with a particular emphasis on British composers. To get a flavour of our range of performances, look through our past concerts section.
Our Conductor
Conductor Steven Joyce Myall
Steven Joyce Myall is the conductor of the Bridgewater Sinfonia. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music, Steven has studied with Sir Colin Davis and Bernard Haitink. Steven has conducted a number of noted orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic, and was assistant conductor of the European Union Youth Orchestra, and collaborated with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
Our Emeritus Music Director
Music Director Adrian Davis
Adrian Davis directed the Bridgewater Sinfonia from its inception in 1998. He is also founder and Director of the Chiltern Chamber Choir, Director of Music at St Peter’s Church, a harpsichordist with the Serenata Ensemble and many other chamber groups, and an accomplished composer. His musical knowledge and enthusiasm have touched the lives of thousands of people in Berkhamsted and beyond over the last 40 years.
Our Patron
Patron Sir Andrew Davis
Since 2008 the Bridgewater Sinfonia has been honoured to have as our Honorary Patron the internationally renowned conductor, Sir Andrew Davis, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Where we are
The Bridgewater Sinfonia is based in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, England, where the orchestra performs at the beautiful 13th-century Parish Church of St Peter, and in the Centenary Theatre of Berkhamsted School.
The town is only 30 minutes out of London by train, and concerts are only a 5-minute walk from Berkhamsted railway station.