Since 1946
50+ orchestra members
Experienced violinist Susan Skone James leads over 50 talented orchestral members. Players’ skills range from good amateurs to experienced music teachers, and we are able to field full wind and horn sections together with trumpets and timpani to join the strings each week.
We can call on a wide variety of additional musicians when something special is required, and we are always interested in hearing from potential new players. We are particularly interested to hear from prospective new members for the cello and double bass sections. The orchestra is well regarded locally, and in recent concerts we have been fortunate to have been joined by some extremely talented soloists, including recent winners of the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition. The orchestra takes part in five well received concerts a year – latest reviews are shown below.
We rehearse on Monday evenings at 7.45 in Weald of Kent School, Tudeley Lane, Tonbridge TN9 2JP.
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Our Music
Brahms Requiem Rehearsal
Read
Our Reviews
Review: TPS July Concert – Treading the Boards
Review of Tonbridge Philharmonic Society Concert – 1st July 2023 The Tonbridge Phil concert on 1st July was entitled ‘Treading the Boards: Theatrical Music Across the ages from Shakespeare to Sondheim'. This included music from the 16th century to the 1980’s. It was an evening combining real favourites and some less familiar music in a thoughtful programme. I was advised it would make us laugh and cry in equal measure - I did have a hankie handy. It was an excellent programme compiled with...
Review: TPS May Concert – Copland, Gershwin and Price
Review of Tonbridge Philharmonic Society Concert – 20th May 2023 It’s always an immense pleasure attending a ‘Tonbridge Phil’ concert, with or without the choir: tonight was no exception. They are always well rehearsed and deliver a polished and thrilling performance. Music from three turn-of-the-century American composers took us from the Great Plains and what could have been a John Wayne western to a New York prohibition speakeasy – all in one programme. Outdoor Overture: Aaron Copland ...
Review: TPS March Concert – Handel, Mendelssohn and Mozart
Review of Tonbridge Philharmonic Society Concert – 25th March 2023 From reading the Chairman’s preface in the handsomely produced programme booklet one could detect something of the frustration and sense of impoverishment for the performing arts caused by the restrictions in force during lockdown – an acute sense of deprivation for singers and players, the musical equivalent of ‘nil by mouth’, though in this case with reference to ‘giving out’ rather than ’taking in’! With such restrictions...