Our Society
ReviewsReview: TPS May 2025 Concert
The audience was eagerly looking forward to a lively programme of some well-known classics for a warm early-summer evening. It is always a delight to enjoy music of this calibre and the Tonbridge Philharmonic never disappoints. The more concerts I attend the more I appreciate the privilege and unique experience of listening to a live performance. As we progressed through the evening the...
Review: TPS April 2025 Concert
This was the first time I have had the pleasure of hearing the Tonbridge Philharmonic orchestra and choir perform under Conductor Olivia Tait’s hugely talented hands, and I was not disappointed. The orchestra and choir were on top form, providing us with a hugely professional and highly entertaining musical evening. The professional soloists were outstanding, and I was delighted to hear once...
Review: TPS February 2025 Concert
This was the first concert for the Tonbridge Philharmonic Orchestra under their interim musical director Oliver Cope, in the position while current incumbent Naomi Butcher is on maternity leave. On this evidence he has quickly built a rapport with the orchestra, already in fine fettle under Butcher’s recent direction. On this occasion they responded with a memorable concert of Romantic...
Review: TPS November 2024 Concert
REQUIEM – GABRIEL FAURE The elegant setting of The Chapel of St Augustine at Tonbridge School was the venue for the first concert of the season. Sadly, the seats were not all taken, perhaps the music of Michael Tippett is less familiar to audiences, although Fauré’s Requiem is well known – and has been used in film scores through the decades and is popular on Classic FM! The Requiem was a...
Review: TPS Summer 2024 Concert
Another joyful night was spent serenaded by Tonbridge Philharmonic Society, and what a highly talented group they are! Last Saturday’s Summer Prom Concert definitely had a last night of the Proms vibe, complete with audience participation and Name that Tune comical medley, and a fantastic master of ceremonies to introduce us to each new rendition. The evening began with the orchestra’s wonderful...

Review: TPS March 2024 Concert – Bach Mass in B Minor
What a joy to spend an evening at the Tonbridge School Chapel being serenaded once more by the superb Tonbridge Philharmonic society’s latest rendering, Bach Mass in B minor. What a triumph! I always look forward to the TPS concerts for I know that I will be entertained, educated and thrilled. The quality of this amateur choir and orchestra is exceptional, one could fool oneself into believing...

Review: TPS February 2024 Concert – Tchaikovsky 4
The first concert of 2024 was exciting and a great start to the rest of the season. Tonight’s performance was some classics, an exciting programme. To set the scene; the evening was accompanied by excellent programme notes that had been researched by Joanna Mace and added huge enjoyment and education to the whole evening. The setting for this concert was the intimate surroundings of Tonbridge...

Review: TPS November 2023 Concert – Belshazzar’s Feast
As the first cold nights of winter approached, the combined forces of the Tonbridge Philharmonic Society presented an English programme of music by Vaughan Williams, Holst and Walton from around a hundred years ago. Susan Spain-Dunk’s sparkling Kentish Downs Overture opened the evening, first performed in 1926 and revived at the Proms in later years. Wonderful woodwind and string interchanges...

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...

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...