Patron:  Grant Shapps, MP

Registered Charity No 1082893
President: Sir Charles Mackerras	Artistic Director: Murray Stewart
Leader: Robert Salter
Orchestra Manager: Lee Stephenson

President: Sir Charles Mackerras
Artistic Director: Murray Stewart
Leader: Robert Salter

Originally founded in 1985 as the Orchestra of St James, the London Pro Arte Orchestra is now in its 19th Season. Murray Stewart became Artistic Director and Principal Conductor in 1985, and since that time the Orchestra has given well over 100 concerts both at home and abroad. The Orchestra made its South Bank debut in 1986, appearing at St John's, Smith Square the following year. It appears regularly in all of London's major Concert Halls, making its Barbican debut in 1995, as well as the Fairfield Hall in Croydon. The Orchestra has regularly appeared at the Colston Hall in Bristol. The London Pro Arte Orchestra has toured abroad in France and Denmark, being invited to give the opening concert at the Vendsyssel Festival, when it broadcast on Danish Radio. The London Pro Arte Brass Ensemble (one of three associated Ensembles of the Orchestra) has since returned to Denmark, recording once again for Danish Radio. A number of distinguished soloists have appeared with the Orchestra, including Peter Jablonski, Tim Hugh, Paul Archibald, Peter Katin, Eric Gruenberg and Marie-Louise Langlais. The London Pro Arte Orchestra has appeared in three South Bank Festivals, Beethoven Plus, the French Bicentenary Festival, and the Szymanowski Festival. It also gave the UK Premiere of Aulis Sallinen's Iron Age Suite in the presence of the composer. Having made its Royal Festival Hall debut in 1991, the London Pro Arte Orchestra took part in the Herbert Howells Centenary Concert the following year, when it gave the London Premiere of Howell's Sine Nomine. The Orchestra has since returned to the Festival Hall to give a performance of Britten's Noye's Fludde with Finchley Children's Music Group. The London Pro Arte Orchestra has a commitment to premiering contemporary works. It has given London Premieres of works by Paul Patterson and Piers Hellawell, as well as premiering several works by Jean Langlais at the South Bank. The Orchestra gave the UK Premiere of Naji Hakim's Organ Concerto, and the World Premiere of Robert Walker's Mele Livida. Recent Premieres include the Oboe Concerto by Kenneth Leighton, and Naji Hakim's Violin Concerto. The Orchestra's first CD, of works by Jean Langlais, was released in 1998 by Koch International. The London Pro Arte Orchestra also made the premiere recording of Richard Maunder's edition of the Mozart Requiem, in its entirety, and on modern instruments.

In 1997 the Orchestra was resident at the People's Palace Concert, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London. The London Pro Arte Orchestra has twice appeared as part of the International Orchestral Concert Series at the Fairfield Hall, Croydon, and will return again in 2008. In recent Seasons, the Orchestra has given concerts at the Cambridge and Henley Festivals, Portchester Castle, Tredegar House, as well as taking part in the 650th Anniversary celebrations at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Since 2001, the Orchestra has played at the Army Air Corps's annual 'Music in the Air' in Hampshire, and at Sywell, Northamptonshire, regularly playing before an audience of 10,000. The London Pro Arte Orchestra holds a residency at Trinity School, Croydon.

For further information about the London Pro Arte Orchestra, please contact Lee Stephenson, Orchestra Manager, LPAO, 15 Bedwell Close, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 3XH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1707 889034, Fax: +44 (0)1707 884267 e-mail: office@londonproarte.co.uk website:www.londonproarte.co.uk

The London Pro Arte Orchestra is a Registered Charity No: 1082893

Page maintained by Samantha Elson
Updated June, 2008
©1998 LPAO