Oxford University Sinfonietta

Patron: Esa-Pekka Salonen  ·  Principal Conductor: James Longstaffe

About the Sinfonietta

Using a small number of the most talented players in the University of Oxford, the Sinfonietta specialises in the performance of early, 20th-century and contemporary chamber orchestra repertoire.

Our programmes usually include music which is elsewhere performed less often than it deserves. Past concerts have included music by Stravinsky, Messiaen, Maxwell Davies, Haydn, MacMillan, Mozart, Adams, Purcell, Lutosławski, Tippett, Janáček and Weir, for ensembles of between eight and thirty players. A good number of past performances have been UK or world premières.

Frequent concert venues are the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, the Wesley Memorial Church and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin (map of venues), though it is not unknown for the orchestra to perform outside Oxford.

You can email us your questions or comments using the contact form.

The Sinfonietta is supported by the Oxford University Faculty of Music and the Oxford University Music Society (OUMS). It is sponsored by

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Members

Membership of the Oxford University Sinfonietta is not limited to undergraduate students: postgraduates, staff members, senior members, and recent graduates are all welcome to apply. Music students generally make up around 40% of the ensemble.

Rehearsals usually occur in the second half of term (see the rehearsal schedule), giving players time to prepare parts, to perform in other University ensembles, and to complete their degrees.

Auditions for all of the ensembles forming part of the Oxford University Music Society usually occur at the beginning of every academic year (at the end of 0th week). As it is a small ensemble, which performs a wide range of challenging music to a high standard, players would need to achieve outstanding audition marks in order to be accepted into the Sinfonietta. If you would like to arrange an audition at another time during the year, or if you would like to re-audition, please ask the manager or the relevant fixer.

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Sinfonietta Committee

Sinfonietta constitution (latest version).

Naturally the Sinfonietta is 'not for profit': ticket prices for concerts are very affordable and no fee is paid to any regular member or committee member. The orchestra relies on the help of the committee for its organisation, and on the financial support of the Faculty of Music and PricewaterhouseCoopers (see above).

Private donations of course are always very welcome and are a great help in managing the high costs of performing contemporary music. Donations can be made into our PayPal account via the button at the top-right corner of this page.

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External Links

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General information

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The Oxford University Sinfonietta is supported by the Oxford University Faculty of Music and the Oxford University Music Society (OUMS). It is sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers.