Menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
  • Repertoire
  • Join Us
  • History of SWON
  • Rehearsals & Concerts
  • Gallery
  • Vortex
  • Shop

History of SWON

Timeline

2019
April 24

New musical director: Christopher Braime

After several successful years with Matthew Hardy, SWON welcomes a new musical director; Christopher Braime.

April 6

20th Anniversary & Premiere of ‘Vortex’

SWON celebrates 20 years and premieres Vortex, a work commissioned by the orchestra and composed by Leo Geyer. Read more about Vortex here.

2018
July 7

SWON brings Formby Band to London

Following our successful collaboration in 2017, SWON invited Formby Band to London and, alongside Finchley Children’s Music Group, reprised a performance of To The Stars!

June 30

Tour to Poole & Bournemouth

SWON has a very successful tour to Poole & Bournemouth, playing open-air concerts in Poole town centre, at Upton Country Park and on Bournemouth Lower Gardens bandstand.

March 24

Rhapsody in Blue

SWON performs a sell-out concert at St Martin’s Gospel Oak, featuring an amazing performance of Rhapsody in Blue with guest soloist Joseph Havlat

2017
July 8

New Concert Venue – St Martin’s Gospel Oak

SWON begins a new collaboration with St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak, as a concert venue. The church has a great community following and hosts a number of different musical events throughout the year.

June 26

Tour to Liverpool & collaboration with Formby Band

SWON went on tour to Liverpool in June 2017 and took part in a collaboration with Formby Band and a local choir to perform a special joint piece – To the Stars!

2016
December 10

Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto with Zach Eastop

SWON was pleased to welcome guest soloist Zachary Eastop, former Young Musician of the Year finalist, for a performance of Arutunian’s Concerto for Trumpet at 2017’s Winter Concert. This was also a charity fundraiser for the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation.

December 5

SWON earns gold in NCBF

SWON earns a gold award in the National Concert Band Festival

2015
December 10

Gregson’s Tuba Concerto with Raymond Hearne

In December 2015, we welcomed Raymond Hearne for a performance of Simon Gregson’s Tuba Concerto, one of the most prominent works for solo tuba.

December 5

SWON earns gold in NCBF

SWON earns a gold award in the National Concert Band Festival

2014
December 5

SWON earns gold in NCBF

SWON earns a gold award in the National Concert Band Festival

May 26

SWON welcomes Matthew Hardy as Musical Director

SWON was pleased to welcome Matthew Hardy as its new Musical Director in May 2014.

2013
June 26

Young Composers Competition

Sponsored by music publishers Stainer and Bell, and judged by our own musical director Matthew Hardy, Keith Allen – Musical director of Birmingham Symphonic Winds and director of National Concert Band Festival; Nicholas Williams – Publishing director at Stainer and Bell, and Roger Cawkwell – Freelance London composer, arranger, conductor, multi instrumentalist, and good friend of SWON.

The results were as follows:
First Place: Trans-Siberian Railway, Alfie Pugh
Second Place: Swallow Canyon, Thomas Carr
Third Place: The Circadian Rhythm of Mr Nails, Henry Mitton

June 26

Tour to Reims

SWON went on tour to Reims, France

2012
September 26

SWON welcomes Adam Cooke as Musical Director

SWON welcomed Adam Cooke as new Musical Director.

2007
June 26

Tour to Antwerp

SWON went on tour to Antwerp, Belgium.

2004
September 26

SWON welcomes Grace Rossiter as Musical Director

SWON welcomed Grace Rossiter as its new Musical Director in 2004.

2003
June 14

Proms at St Jude’s

SWON returned to Proms at St Jude’s in 2003

March 18

Charity concert for The National Autistic Society

SWON has often supported causes that are important to members, and this was no exception with a concert given in March 2003 in support of The National Autistic Society. The programme included Selections from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific and Holst’s Second Suite in F.

2002
June 21

Proms at St Jude’s

SWON was proud to be part of the Proms programme at St Jude-on-the-Hill in Golders Green. The programme included the Vaughan Williams Concerto for Tuba with guest soloist Stephen Wick, Walton’s Crown Imperial March and works by Holst and Chaminade.

2001
July 1

Guest soloist and more collaboration

SWON continued its collaboration with Brooklands Junior School and were delighted to have internationally acclaimed saxophonist Sarah Markham performing with them at a summer concert at St Jude’s.

January 15

Further grant from Barnet council

SWON benefited further from Barnet Council’s small grants scheme in early 2001, with a £500 grant to put towards new sheet music.

2000
July 15

Childs Hill School Centenary Concert

SWON was involved with Childs Hill School’s Centenary celebrations, performing a concert there in July 2000.

April 4

SWON’s first joint concert

SWON began its history of collaboration with other ensembles with a joint concert with Brookland Junior School Wind Band in April 2000.

1999
June 26

Mozart & Much More Momentous Music

SWON continued to grow, giving concerts in March and July 1999 which included music from Vaughan Williams, Gershwin, Mozart and more.

April 6

SWON gains patronship

SWON was proud to announce that The Lord Colwyn accepted becoming a patron of SWON in April 1999. Just a few months later, the Mayor of Barnet also accepted an invitation to become a patron.

February 26

Grant from Barnet Council

SWON was awarded a much needed £620 grant from Barnet Council to be spent on running costs and orchestral equipment.

1998
December 15

SWON’s first Christmas

SWON’s first concert was a Christmas affair, with pieces including Vaughan Williams – Folk Song Suite, Prokofiev – Spartakiade, Selections from Gershwin, and Memories of Mancini

September 15

SWON is born

SWON is founded by Stephen Kersley and its first conductor, Stuart Allen in September 1998. Initial membership was driven by advertising in the local papers.

Widgets
Tweets by @swonfan

Recent Posts

  • Interview with Leo Geyer, pt V
  • Interview with Leo Geyer pt IV
  • Interview with Leo Geyer pt III
  • Interview with Leo Geyer pt II
  • Interview with Leo Geyer, composer of ‘Vortex’

Categories

  • blog
  • Uncategorised
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Illustratr by WordPress.com.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.