Kettering Symphony Orchestra is an amateur orchestra from the town of Kettering, Northants and is comprised of players from all around the surrounding villages and towns. We are a registered charity and put on several classical music concerts every year for the benefit of the local community and the members of the orchestra.
Currently the Orchestra has around 60 musicians ranging in age from teenagers to pensioners. The Orchestra currently presents three concerts each year, one in the spring, one in the summer and one in the winter.
Our Conductor since September 2024 is Andy Kirkwood and the Leader of the Orchestra, Trevor Dyson, joined KSO in October 2018.
Kettering Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1957 by Neville Dilkes who became its first conductor and is the orchestra’s current President. In the early 1960’s he went on to found the English Sinfonia and the conductor’s baton was taken over by Oswald Lawrence, who had trained under Sir Henry Wood at the Royal Academy. He remained as conductor for 21 years and was followed by John Frith (1985-87), Alan Suttie (1987-91) and Eric Tebbett (1991-94). Harold Colman then took over the baton for 15 years finally handing over to Peter Dunkley after the 2009 Spring Concert. Graham Tear up the position following an 18 month hiatus for the orchestra due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Andy Kirkwood became our conductor in September 2024.
The orchestra rehearses on Monday evenings at Greenfields School, Kettering during school terms and has performed concerts at a number of locations in and around Kettering, including Kettering Science Academy, Kettering Buccleuch Academy, All Saints’ Church, Pytchley, Park Road Baptist Church, Rushden and The Salvation Army Citadel, Kettering. Our concerts currently take place at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Rothwell. If you wish to get in touch please use the contact form located here.
KSO in concert, April 2014, playing Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition at the Masque Theatre .
KSO in concert, April 2014, playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with soloist Jill Morton at the Masque Theatre.