The Djanogly Community Orchestra is a friendly amateur orchestra based in Nottingham. Our name derives from the Djanogly Learning Trust where we rehearse on Monday evenings, and we usually perform three concerts per year.
Our music is mostly for full orchestra from the classical period onward, and includes symphonies, shorter pieces for orchestra, and concertos – frequently using local young musicians (which provides inspiration to us all). We have also performed children’s concerts, and works in conjunction with local choirs.
To see our picture gallery and concert history, click Gallery.
You can also follow us on Facebook page here
Spring 2026 Concert: 19:30 Sat 28th March 2026, at St Mark’s Church, Woodthorpe, Nottingham, NG5 4PH.
Programme:
- Oliver Thomas, Symphony No. 1 (3rd and 1st movements)
- Coleridge-Taylor, Petite Suite Du Concert
- McCunn, The Land of the Mountain and the Flood
- Brahms, Double Concerto for Violin and Cello. (Soloists: Izzy Howard on violin and Danushka Edirisinghe on cello)
Our Conductor
Dan Watson is our Conductor, and joined the orchestra in 2017. He shares some of the planning with the committee and works closely with Becky, the leader, to come up with interesting and enjoyable concert repertoire for the orchestra to take on.
Aside from his position in this orchestra, Dan works with other orchestras across the Midlands and plays the saxophone too.
Away from music he can often be found in his shed making model steam engines, or spending time with his wife (Sally), and daughter (Bethan), who was born in December 2017.
Interested in vacancies in the orchestra?
As a large amateur orchestra we often need additional players. This can be because a current member leaves, but also occurs when they are away for a specific concert, or where additional players or ‘unusual’ instruments (e.g. Bass Clarinet, Harp, extra percussion, etc) are needed for a piece.
To join you need to be a competent player (normally around grade 5 or above), and, the orchestra needs to have a role for your instrument. We do not have auditions, but instead, invite a prospective member to come to rehearsals for up to 4 weeks and try playing with us. That allows the player to decide if they like the orchestra, and allows us to decide whether joining at that time is appropriate or should be deferred until the player has improved.
At the moment all sections of the orchestra are FULL except for:
- Violins
- Violas
- Cellos
- Double Bases
- Percussionists
- Tenor Trombone
…from whom we would particularly welcome enquiries. Players in other sections, interested in joining can still get in touch – so we can put you on a waiting list until circumstances change. Please contact membership@djanoglycommunityorchestra.co.uk.
Acknowledgement
The orchestra was established in 1988 with support from Sir Harry Djanogly. Our rehearsals are, and always have been, at what is now the Djanogly Learning Trust site on Sherwood Rise, which we continue to enjoy. We would like to express our thanks to both.
Djanogly Community Orchestra 