Oldham Symphony Orchestra

Oldham Symphony Orchestra has been established for over forty years. It was founded in 1963, by the Whittaker brothers, as the Oldham Amateur Orchestra, with the locally born composer Sir William Walton as one of its patrons. Tom Whittaker remains principal clarinet to this day.

The orchestra was renamed Oldham Symphony Orchestra in 1973.

The orchestra rehearses weekly throughout the school year and gives concerts three times a year in Oldham and Rochdale.

The orchestra supports itself almost exclusively through membership subscriptions, a patronage scheme and ticket sales. We are also a registered charity. These sources of income are unlikely in the long run to sustain the orchestra, as each concert leads to a reduction in our reserves. We are actively seeking sponsorship, which will help us to maintain our aims and improve standards.

We aim to offer a varied repertoire, including the standard symphonic works and others that are less well known.

The orchestra performs an important function for the community by giving an opportunity for school leavers to continue musical performance into adult life and by providing a platform for young soloists.