Radcliffe Orchestra
The orchestra consists
mainly of members of the healthcare
profession, including many from the John
Radcliffe Hospital and other Oxford
hospitals, and we have been rehearsing and
performing there for nearly 40 years.
There are usually three concerts a year and we
often fill the Tingewick Hall with an
enthusiastic audience. Each concert is
in aid of one or more medical charities.
The orchestra consists mainly of healthcare
workers, including many from the John
Radcliffe Hospital and other Oxford hospitals,
and we have been rehearsing and performing on
these sites for over 40 years. We
usually give three concerts a year in
Tingewick Hall at the John Radcliffe Hospital,
but the hall is currently unavailable.
Each concert is in aid of one or more medical
charities, and the orchestra itself is
supported by the Oxford Hospitals Charity.
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History
In 1978 a group of hospital musicians, led by
respiratory consultant Dr Donald Lane, came together
to give a concert in memory of a young nurse named
Jill Broadis who had died of melanoma, and helped to
launch a memorial fund for cancer research in her
name. This concert then became a regular event
for 20 years. Gradually, extra concerts were
added, each supporting other medically-related
charities. Over time, the number of musicians
involved grew to a full-size symphony orchestra, and
moved from the old Radcliffe Infirmary to the larger
venue of the Tingewick Hall at the John Radcliffe
Hospital, becoming the Radcliffe Orchestra.
The winning formula of the orchestra, liaising
with a charity to host a concert on a Saturday
evening, with refreshments being provided after, was
established early on, and has persisted since. The
players are drawn from all walks of the healthcare
services in Oxfordshire, including porters,
pharmacists, technicians, scientists, medical
students, nurses, physiotherapists, clerical staff,
GPs, as well as junior and senior doctors.
Family members and friends also help swell the
numbers up to a full symphony orchestra.
Dr Donald Lane, also a viola player, pianist and
composer, founded and conducted the orchestra from
1978 and saw the concerts through their 25th
anniversary year. In 2004, he handed the
running of the orchestra over to a committee chaired
by Professor John Stradling, also a respiratory
consultant, who was in turn succeeded by Dr Rosie
Adams, a radiology consultant, in 2017.
Over the years we have had the privilege of working
with a wide range of talented musicians, both
professional and amateur, who have performed as
soloists with the orchestra. In recent years we
have also been fortunate to have amazing conductors
prepared to rehearse the orchestra for 6 to 7 weeks
prior to the Saturday concert. Our most loyal
conductor in the modern era has been Catherine
Underwood, who has conducted us at every June concert
since 2006. These regular conductors now
include George Caird for our March concert and Andrew
Gray each November. Our 100
th concert
was in 2016 and we look forward to giving many more in
the future, combining music, fun and fundraising.
Our next performance is to be held on Saturday
13th March, 2021 at 7.45pm, in the
Tingewick Hall of the John Radcliffe Hospital. We
are delighted to welcome George Caird again as our
conductor for this concert.
Our Next Concert
Our next performance is to be held on Saturday
11th June 2022 at 7:30pm, St
Michael and All Angels Church, Lonsdale Road,
Oxford OX2 7ES. We are delighted to
welcome Catherine Underwood again as our conductor
for this concert.
The programme of music for this concert will be:
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto with soloist Jocelyn
Freeman; Dvořák: Symphony No. 8
Tickets are £12.
(£10 concessions, under 16
free) and are available from the Cairns Library at
the John Radcliffe Hospital, and on the door.
All proceeds from the concert will go towards Medical
Detection Dogs, a charity that trains dogs to
detect the odour of human disease. It is involved in
research into the detection of Covid-19 and cancer,
and trains Medical Alert Assistance Dogs to support
people with life-threatening diseases.
All proceeds from the concert will go towards The
Porch, a charity that targets its services at
those who are experiencing, or have experienced,
rough sleeping, hostel accommodation, supported
housing, or who are vulnerably housed.
Dates of Future concerts
- Saturday 12th November 2022
- Saturday 11th March 2023
- Saturday 10th June 2023