ABOUT US
Music Director
HSO is delighted to announce the appointment of Alexander Walker as it’s new Music Director. Alex will take up his post in November 2024 in time to direct the Christmas concerts. Since the retirement of Ian Brown two years ago, and his marathon 27 years at the helm, HSO has benefitted from a wonderful mix of inspiring conductors, including Leon Bosch, Jacques Cohen, and Margarita Mikhailova who conducts our November concert. Under Alex’s talented leadership, HSO hopes to build on its past success to inspire future audiences and players alike.
Alexander Walker has pursued a unique path, championing the music he loves, in places where it is not well-known, conducting pioneering performances all over the world. He has contributed to the rediscovery and re-evaluation of several significant composers with his innovative discography. In 2017, the Elgar Society honoured him with their highest award, the Elgar Society Medal.
(Photo Erik Berg)
Leader
David Burton has led the Henley Symphony Orchestra since the summer of 1992. He rejoined in January 2006 after a short sabbatical.
He started learning the violin at the age of nine in Britain’s first Suzuki Group, studied at the Royal College of Music, and graduated with distinction from the National Centre for Orchestral Studies.
He spent two years with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and Icelandic Opera. Now he combines a busy teaching career with freelance playing with orchestras such as London City Ballet, as a concerto soloist, and as a member of the Hammig String Quartet.
Works Performed
We have explored much of the standard symphonic repertoire and some contemporary music, including the first performances of several commissioned works.
In recent years, we have performed ambitious works such as Bruckner’s 7th Symphony, Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ and Strauss’s ‘Alpine’ Symphony. We have accompanied a number of distinguished soloists in concertos including György Pauk, Isabelle van Keulen, Steven Isserlis, Freddie Kempf, John Lill, Tasmin Little, Michael Collins, Evelyn Glennie, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, worked with many outstanding young artists at the outset of their professional careers.
See our full list of the works we’ve played from 1970 to the present day.
Performances Home and Abroad
The Orchestra has made six visits to Falaise, Henley’s twin town in Normandy, giving concerts in the great Norman church of St Gervais, the magnificent new Forum Theatre and the Eglise Sainte-Trinité.
In summer 2007 the Henley Symphony Orchestra joined the combined choirs of Falaise for two memorable and packed performances of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria. Three successful and enjoyable trips have also been made to Henley’s other twin town, Leichlingen in Germany (1993, 1999 and 2005). More recently, the orchestra travelled to Henley’s twin town of Bled, Slovenia in July of 2017 to play in the Bled International Music Festival and Bled TV’s video can be seen on YouTube opposite.
- In July 2008 the Henley Symphony Orchestra participated in the Henley Festival Trust’s outreach project SHOUT! by performing a specially commissioned work together with young musicians from the area. The orchestra also presents a regular Christmas concert for pre-school children.
HSO was delighted to take part in the Cultural Olympiad for London 2012 with its performances of the specially commissioned Making Music Overture by Orlando Gough.