The orchestra has been enjoying Covid secure rehearsals since 24th May at The Weald of Kent Grammar School under the baton of our departing Music Director, Ben Westerman, who is now moving to Berlin to continue his career. Ben spoke warmly about his short tenure with Tonbridge Philharmonic Society, which began in January 2020. “It is with some sadness I leave. It’s so encouraging and warming that everyone came back to rehearse for the sake of rehearsing with a smile on their faces.”
Due to the intervention of the pandemic, Ben only conducted one concert in Tonbridge – a very memorable performance of Mussorgsky’s Pictures At An Exhibition and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 which received a glowing review.
It has been rewarding for the orchestra to dust off instruments and play some well-loved repertoire, from familiar overtures such as Beethoven’s Egmont and Weber’s Der Freischütz to Dvorak’s tuneful Symphony No. 8 and Brahms’ Variation on a Theme by Joseph Haydn.
The last few rehearsals of this unprecedented season will be spent auditioning potential new Music Directors.
Watch this space!

Robert Skone James thanks Ben Westerman