Our Society

One of the great strengths of the Tonbridge Philharmonic Society is the relationship between the choral and orchestral divisions.  Few such societies enjoy the privilege of having two equally-matched teams of amateur musicians which both perform so ably.  It was this integrity of ensemble which conductor, Matthew Willis, was able to exploit so magically in tonight’s splendid performance of The...

Tonbridge Philharmonic Society Review by Sara Kemsley Carmen by Georges Bizet Saturday 1 July 2017 Matthew Willis is an adventurous conductor for the TPS.  He is constructing a journey, which is taking this already good amateur society and its audiences to new territory with well-judged steps.  This first outing into a semi-staged performance of an opera, in a church building, could have gone...

On Saturday 20 May, Tonbridge Philharmonic Society under their conductor, Matthew Willis, gave what he called “a challenging” concert, and they certainly rose to the occasion with a spirited performance.  The programme was full of interesting contrasts, starting with three sections from the much loved Má Vlast by Smetana. This was followed by the Tonbridge première of a Symphony in...

After a very Mozartian start to Cherubini’s Overture Anacréon, the Allegro found the Tonbridge Philharmonic Orchestra in dashing mood. From the quiet ‘cello start to the dramatic wind crescendi under the baton of Matthew Willis, this was a well-shaped performance. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.22 featured young TWIYCA winner soloist Marina Koka. With this piece the orchestra seemed to find more...

On Saturday 18 February a large audience enjoyed a varied and unusual programme presented by the Tonbridge Philharmonic Society under their conductor, Matthew Willis. First were the Nocturnes I and II by Debussy. The first, entitled Nuages (Clouds) was atmospheric – the Philharmonic clearly demonstrated that they knew how to play a pianissimo that was most effective. We experienced some fine...

Finzi: For St.Cecilia Elgar: Enigma Variations Holst: The Cloud Messenger The concert given on Saturday 19th November in Tonbridge School Chapel by the Tonbridge Philharmonic Society Choir and Orchestra was a very special occasion.  It had long been the ambition of their conductor, Matthew Willis, to perform Gustav Holst’s The Cloud Messenger, a work that has rarely been heard since its first...

Conductor: Matthew Willis. Leader: Susan Skone James. Soloist: Robin Morrish (violin) This had to be the perfect programme for the large audience that included a lot of family groups – some with very young children. An outdoor concert demands a perfect setting and the lawn adjoining Tonbridge Castle was just that – a wonderful and highly appropriate backdrop to a very British sort of evening....

Strauss - Serenade for Wind Instruments Op.7, Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings Op.48 and Schubert - Symphony No.4 in C minor ‘Tragic’ This was a well-judged programme for the Society’s first orchestral concert in a new venue, the recently-built Media and Arts Centre at West Kent College.  Audience and performers enjoyed the spacious and welcoming facilities and the addition of theatre lighting...

TONBRIDGE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY WITH EVANGELISCHE KANTOREI HEUSENSTAMM- JOINT CONCERT : HANDEL’S MESSIAH There was a sense of occasion in Tonbridge School Chapel on 19th March when a capacity audience, led by Councillor Owen Baldock, Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, welcomed musicians from the town’s twin, Heusenstamm.  Excellent sections of the programme explained the history going back to 1989,...