Later this month, the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra (SUSO) will be performing with new Music Director, Susanna Riddell, for the first time.
The orchestra was first launched in October 1919 as an orchestral society at the Hartley University College (now the University of Southampton). Celebrating its 97th birthday last month, the orchestra is now over 90-strong and continues to provide students with the opportunity to study and perform some of the most challenging symphonic repertoire. Membership consists of students studying a wide variety of subjects, ranging from mechanical engineering and medicine, to music and archaeology.
Susanna Riddell has gathered over 20 years’ experience of working on the international stage with world class conductors and soloists. She has been the Director of the national award-winning Wessex Youth Orchestra for the past 10 years, and has recently conducted in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall.
The orchestra is run by an annually elected committee. This year’s President Thomas Kidman commented:
We are delighted to welcome Susanna to the esteemed position of Music Director here at the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra. The vacancy attracted over 100 applicants with some very high quality candidates. Susanna’s approach to rehearsals and the professionalism she demands from the members has resulted in some extremely exciting ensemble playing from the orchestra. We look forward greatly to our concert this term, and many other exciting projects to come.
SUSO perform ‘Winter’s Eve’ on Saturday 26 November at 19:30 in Southampton’s Central Hall. The programme is Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Prokofiev’s Winter Bonfire Suite (with a children’s choir from Beechwood Junior School and St Anne’s Catholic School) and Glazunov – ‘Autumn’ from ‘The Seasons’. Tickets are £12 adults, £10 senior citizens and students £5, available on the door only.
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