Symphony Orchestra
Principal Conductor: Dan Watson
Professional string, woodwind and brass tutors
“Lovely to spend a week thinking about nothing but music. We have been challenged but supported to rise to the challenge”
previous course member
For 2026 Dan, in consultation with the tutor team, has chosen a wide variety of works to stimulate and challenge each member, giving the opportunity to hone new skills whilst also allowing room to build on existing ones.
As usual woodwind places are limited and players who apply will be informed about places in February 2026. With the Symphony Orchestra we aim to avoid doubling of woodwind parts, though occasionally this might be necessary.
Players will work closely with our tutors in sectional rehearsals, whilst full rehearsals vary between works for the final concert and “discovery” sessions; a chance to work on new pieces under expert tutelage.
The programme for the final concert will be chosen during the week, and will include a selection of works and movements from the following repertoire:
- Tchaikovsky…..Symphony no.6, Pathetique
- Rossini…..Overture “Semiramide”
- Butterworth…..The Banks of Green Willow
- Suk…..Fantastic Scherzo
- Brahms…..Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn
Dan is a freelance conductor specialising in the amateur, community and youth orchestra sectors. He currently holds principal and guest conductor positions with several orchestras across the Midlands.
His aims as a conductor are to bring together professionals and community musicians alike, culminating in high standard performances and rewarding life experiences.
STRING & WOODWIND ENSEMBLES
String and woodwind players from the two orchestras also get opportunities through the week to work with tutors on specific ensemble repertoire. String sessions are co-ordinated by Steve Bingham, and woodwind by Graham Dolby, and the ensembles get a chance to showcase their work in the Ensembles Concert. There will be specific programmed rehearsal sessions for Symphony Orchestra strings and Symphony Orchestra woodwind.
These sessions are tutor-led and will explore repertoire chosen to suit each ensemble. They also provide an opportunity to work on some of the specific skills needed to work as an instrumental section. Horns and brass players – not to be left out – have their own ensemble sessions and concert.
In addition to timetabled sessions, there are opportunities during the week to form ad hoc ensembles, and members are encouraged to bring sets of music for that purpose as these are not generally provided by the summer school. Members may also participate in the full range of optional activities, including with the choir and in the Members’ Concert.
BRASS ENSEMBLE
Horns, trumpet, trombone and tuba players are part of the Brass Ensemble course, which has proved popular in keeping players busy throughout the week, and also provides the opportunity to play in both the Symphony Orchestra course and the Sinfonietta, providing an opportunity rare in music summer schools to experience a wide range of repertoire as well as professional tuition for each instrument. As with all players, there is the opportunity to partake in optional sessions such as Open Wind Band and Open Light Orchestra, and in the Members’ Concert.
TUTORIALS
One of the exceptional strengths of the NLMS Summer School is the high ratio of tutors to members. Typically, one of the daily sessions is a “sectional” rehearsal:
- Each string section in both orchestras, from first violins through to double basses, has a daily session with the professional who leads that section
- Specialist tutors for each woodwind instrument will be present throughout the summer school.
- Horn and brass players have their own specialist tutors for horn trumpet and trombone as part of the Brass Ensemble course.
STANDARD
This course is intended for instrumentalists of a standard equivalent to Grade 8 or higher, but applications from string players of a slightly lower standard who have good orchestral experience will be considered.