Stand Sure Orchestra & Choirs

Our final stop with Hector Berlioz takes a look at “Harold In Italy”.  It is a symphony with viola obbligato composed by Hector Berlioz....

Once upon a Boxing Day in the quaint town of Melodyville, the air was filled with echoes of laughter, and the streets were adorned with...

Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” has long been associated with Christmas.  IN this blog I delve into some reasons why. Traditional...

Hector Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique" is a groundbreaking and highly innovative work in the Romantic orchestral repertoire. Composed...

In January 2024 Stand Sure Orchestra & Choirs will be starting in Devon.  This new, vibrant contemporary project will give musicians and...

Hector Berlioz (1803–1869) lived during the Romantic era, a period in Western cultural history that spanned the late 18th to mid-19th...

As we approach the festivities of December I thought we’d take a look at the history of Christmas Carols which dates back many centuries...

Today we look at the history of the viola, a musical instrument that belongs to the string family and is slightly larger than the violin...

Our vibrant musical endeavour is coming to West Devon! If you play any instrument or if you love to sing this could be the opportunity...

Our final composer of the month is Hector Berlioz. In this blog I’ll give a brief outline of his life and over the coming month will go...

In today’s blog I take a quick look at the general history of an orchestra. Ancient Beginnings: The concept of a group of musicians...

"Rodeo" is a ballet composed by our composer of the month, Aaron Copland, in 1942. The ballet consists of four sections and is known for...

The drum kit, also known as a drum set or simply drums, is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other percussion instruments that are set...

Part of my goal when I started my orchestra and choirs was to try and eliminate musical snobbery. Sadly in all the years I’ve been...

"Appalachian Spring" is one of Aaron Copland's most celebrated compositions, and it holds a special place in American classical music....

SSOCs began its life in Wiltshire where I fulfilled a near 30-year dream by starting his own orchestra and choir in 2021. After playing...

When SSOCs starts up again in January 2024, we’ll be taking a more contemporary direction. I thought it might be fun today to look at a...

Aaron Copland (1900-1990) is our composer of the month. He was an influential American composer and conductor known for his distinctive...

Part of the ethos of SSOCs is to do something different and that’s not limited to the choice of music. When we start up in January in my...

Aaron Copland (1900-1990) was an American composer, conductor, and music educator. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and...