Links the Essex Symphony Orchestra Recommend

The links presented on this page are relevant to classical music and to general activities and information local to Essex (UK) and are recommended by the Essex Symphony Orchestra. Please try them, but do come back to www.esosymph.freeserve.co.uk!

Table 1 - Directories and Information Sources
Music in Essex	Links to orchestras, choirs, and brass bands.
Beehive at This is Essex	All you want to know about Essex. Don't miss the Beehive. You could have a site there for free!
Chelmsford Borough Council	If you have paid your rates you are entitled to this well presented information. Includes local events.
Michael Gray's Blog Spot	Michel Gray is a well established arts reviewer in the Chelmsford and Essex area.
Locallife Chelmsford	A web-based directory covering all aspects of Chelmsford's life
Suffolk Music	A diary of classical music concerts and events in Suffolk and the surrounding area
Essex Sites	A directory providing thousands of links to a wide range of activities and services in Essex.
Essex Local Directory	A directory of Essex-based sites.
Making Music Eastern	This link takes you to the Eastern Section of 'Making Music', of which society the ESO is a member.
UK Amateur Orchestras	A jumping-off point for an unofficial round-up of the huge number of non-professional orchestras in the UK
Music Teachers	A free service which aims to support musicians in every aspect of education and performance.
Chelmsford Clash Diary	A listing of planned musical events in the Chelmsford area. Designed to help organisers avoid date clashes.
Composition Today	A site which encourages new composition by listing composers and displaying concert events where new works are to be performed.

Table 2 - Other Musical Societies
Essex Musical Association (UK)	A 'Beehive' site about an Essex-based society which gives smaller choirs big choir experiences
Southend Symphony Orchestra	Details of the SSO concerts and the background to their organisation.
The Maldon Orchestra	Information about a friendly town orchestra with an associated youth orchestra
The Essex Chamber Orchestra	An orchestra, popularly known as ECHO, which comes together three times a year for intensive weekend rehearsals followed by a series of concerts usually in Essex.
Chelmsford Singers	A fine choir, associated with Chelmsford Cathedral, with historical links to the ESO
Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir	An Essex-based choir with a reputation for its first class singing of all types of music, from sacred to the light hearted.
Phoenix Youth Orchestra	A site covering five youth orchestras in Brentwood
Colne Philharmonic Orchestra	A thriving orchestra based near Colchester which attracts players from as far afield as Cambridge, Bishop's Stortford, Southend and Colchester.
Caprice - The Essex Wind Orchestra	Established as an important and popular part of Chelmsford musical life Caprice has a membership of nearly eighty.
Haverhill Sinfonia	An orchestra based in Haverhill, Suffolk, which has built a solid reputation under conductor Kevin Hill since its first concert in 1986
Ingatestone Choral Society	A mixed choir, based in Ingatestone Essex, with about 60 members and a wide repertoire of music, Gives at least two local concerts a year. This choir sings in the Essex Musical Association Concerts (see link above).
Colchester Waits Shawm Band	A group of musicians who are are taking on the challenge of learning to play these vibrant instruments, bringing the sounds and colours of the shawm band to the streets of Colchester, as it was in medieval times.

Table 3 - Composer Dedicated Societies
The Elgar Society	Superbly informative site on Elgar's Life and Works
The George Butterworth Site	A site about George Butterworth - a rarity. The references to the Great War and A.E. Housman are worth reading
The Ralph Vaughan-Williams Society	A mine of information about this most English of English composers
The Hector Berlioz Website	Devoted to the music, life and works of Hector Berlioz

Table 4 - Supplies and Services
Bill Lewington	A shopping place for musicians
Dace's Music Shop Chelmsford	Dace's, a brilliant music shop for all your needs.
Woodbridge Violins, Suffolk	Restorers and repairers of stringed instruments and suppliers of quality violins, violas, cellos and accessories.
Sandarac Ltd., Sudbury	A company specialising in European hand-crafted stringed instruments for the intermediate to professional level player.

Table 5 - Associated Musicians
Dr Stanley Vann	A web site originally designed to help those who were interested in our President's music, since expanded to give his profile and other contextual information.
James Ross	A well established freelance conductor who has rehearsed the ESO
Renaissance Duo Wyldes Noyse	Elizabeth and Chris Gutteridge are key members of the Group Wyldes Noyse. This group of musicians wear renaissance dress, perform on a variety of early instruments and sing songs from medieval times. Elizabeth is a member of the ESO