KING’S COLLEGE LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PROGRAMME
O. Böhme (1870 – 1938) Concerto in F Minor for Trumpet and Orchestra op. 18
E. Grieg (1843 – 1907) Peer Gynt Suite no. 1 op. 46
A. Dvořák (1841 – 1904) 8 Slavonic Dances op. 46
The King’s College London Symphony Orchestra (KCLSO) is the flagship ensemble of the Music Department at King’s College London, and over the past 15 years it has grown both in size and stature to make its mark on the capital’s music scene, emerging as one of the best student-led orchestras in the UK and attracting members from a variety of institutions across London as well as King’s College London itself.
KCLSO performs numerous exciting pieces of repertoire every year, taking on impressive challenges in music. The orchestra grows in strength every year through our challenging repertoire decisions. Recent repertoire includes: Mahler, Symphony No. 1 (Titan), Nielsen, Symphony No. 5, Rachmaninov, Symphony No. 2, Sibelius, Symphony No. 2, Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5, Saint-Saëns, Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony), Dvořak, Slavonic Dances, op.46, Elgar, The Wand of Youth Suite No. 1, Gershwin, An American in Paris, Grieg, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Mussorgsky (orch. Ravel), Pictures at an Exhibition, Prokofiev, A Summer Day (Children’s Suite), Shostakovich, Festive Overture. Smaller Works include Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man, Humperdinck, Excerpts from Hansel and Gretel, Smetana, Šárka (Má vlast), Ravel, Pavane pour une infante défunte, and more.
KCLSO hosts an annual composition competition, where winners have their piece performed by the orchestra. The 2024/25 season’s winner is Joe Cobb, and his composition Gallery. Previous winners include: – Joe Vorapon, Themes of Andaman, Arthur Elletson, Escapes Concerto. KCLSO also runs an annual student concerto competition, where winners perform with the orchestra accompanying them. Highlights include: Bauzin, Poeme for Alto Saxophone (George Yeo, 2024), Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 3 (Maÿlis Mennesson, 2024), Böhme, Trumpet Concerto (Charlie Keeling, 2025), Grieg, Piano Concerto in A Minor (Zhenya Sharogradskiy, 2025), and others.
KCLSO has performed in many locations across London and on our annual tours to Europe. Recent venues and tour destinations include: London: – King’s College London Chapel, King’s College London Great Hall, St James’s Church, Piccadilly, St Clement Danes Church, Strand. Tours include Collégiale Notre Dame des Anges, L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, France, Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur, Aix-en-Provence, Château de La Tour d’Aigues, The Victoria International Arts Festival, Gozo, Malta (2025), South of France (2024), Venice, Italy (2023), Prague, Czechia (2022). KCLSO has worked with a number of conductors, both experienced and entering the industry. KCLSO chooses a new Assistant Conductor every year, giving an opportunity to an upcoming and talented new conductor to work alongside the Principal Conductor for the season. Conductors, principal and assistant, KCLSO has had the pleasure of working with recently include: James Ross (22/23 and 23/24), Gabriela Opacka-Boccadoro (23/24), Daniel Hogan (24/25), Sofia Grigoriadou (24/25).
KCLSO’s list of achievements is extensive, from organising incredible tours every year to successful concerts performed in the academic year. In the 24/25 season, KCLSO has sold out all concerts to date, bringing impressive audiences and encouraging outstanding playing by very talented musicians, and both music and non-music students alike are welcome in the KCLSO community. KCLSO is entirely self-funded. The committee is chosen at the start of the academic year and works together to lead a successful year, covering tour, orchestral management and wellbeing among other responsibilities. The current committee is comprised of Jenna Schmidt (President), Marko Blanusa (Vice President), Meg Elkins, Esther Mok, Caty Hatton (Orchestral Managers), Philipp Kruse, Kieran Gilbert (Tour Managers), Kaavya Venkatesh (Treasurer), Leo Wen (Wellbeing Lead), Evelyn Chow, Cindy Guo (Media and Marketing), Sam Crawley (Admin.), Jake Lui (Librarian), Shannon Liew (Social Secretary), Poppy Ellis-Logan (Advisory).
