A new and exciting amateur string orchestra on the border between North Wales and Cheshire. Use the buttons below to find out more.
About Us
Our aims as an organisation are to:
Educate players and audiences on the wide array of music for string orchestras.
Develop a friendly, welcoming and encouraging community for players of all skill levels.
Provide amateur musicians of any skill level an opportunity to play string orchestra repertoire.
Rehearsals:We rehearse weekly for three terms a season, every Thursday 7:30 - 9:30PM at St. Mary's Church, Broughton. Please check the relevant Season page for more details.Each rehearsal will have a short break - please bring any refreshments that you would like.St. Mary's Church has toilets, and free car parking is available at the rear of the church, off of Bishops Ct road.
Fees:Attendance to your first rehearsal is free, after which the cost for all members is £20 for each term.
Admission:Anyone over the age of 16 is welcome to join the string orchestra, we request that you complete a simple form to let us know that you're planning on coming and enables us to send you an information pack prior to your first rehearsal.
The Conductor
Simon Rowland is a conductor who has a plethora of experience with community, amateur and semi-professional orchestras.Starting from the young age of 16 as the Associate Conductor of the Borders Orchestra, Simon first studied conducting at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music under Ewa Strusinska.Simon went on to study music at the University of Leeds where he conducted various ensembles, including the Leeds University Union Symphony Orchestra and attended several conducting workshops including workshops at Opera North, Sherborne Summer School of Music and with the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic.Simon has also studied at the University of New Mexico (America), where he continued to learn conducting under Jorge Perez Gomez. Whilst there Simon conducted various ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra of Albuquerque, University of New Mexico Health Science Center Orchestra and many more. Simon also conducted a number of new compositions at the International Composers Symposium which was held in Albuquerque in 2019.Since graduating, Simon has returned to his roots, becoming the conductor of the Borders Orchestra where he first started in April of 2024, and started the Broughton String Orchestra September 2025.
Contact Us and Privacy Policy
If you have any questions about the ensemble or open rehearsal please contact us on [email protected].Our privacy policy is also able to be viewed following the relevant link below.
2025/2026 Season
September 25th - November 27th 2025:
Elgar - Serenade for Strings
Warlock - Capriol Suite
Holst - St. Paul's Suite
January 29th - March 26th 2026:
Kalinnikov - Serenade for Strings
Mendelssohn - String Symphony No. 10
Glazunov - Theme with Variations for Strings in G Minor
Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings
April 30th - June 25th 2026:
Sibelius - Impromptu
Wiren - Serenade for String Orchestra
Nielsen - Suite for Strings in A Minor
Grieg - Two Elegiac Melodies
Beliczay - Serenade in D Minor