About Us
The Linden Wind Orchestra was founded in 1984 by Roger Phillips, and very quickly became established as one of South East England's foremost wind ensembles.
Since its formation, the LWO has performed at grand dinner functions and outdoor 'Proms in the Park' concerts, and has taken part in many high-profile fund-raising events. These include the World-Wide Fund for Nature, the Diabetic Association, the Save Guy's Hospital Campaign, the SEQUAL Trust, the National Meningitis Trust and Help the Aged.
We arrange and promote other concerts at St Andrew's Church, Surbiton, at the Vera Fletcher Hall in Thames Ditton and at St John's Church, Kingston.
Recent concerts have included 'An American Festival' at Vera Fletcher Hall and 'A Musical Christmas Festival' at St John's Church, Kingston. During the Summer we often play outdoor concerts and in recent years these have included The Walled Gardens in Sunbury, Brighton Pavilion, Hever Castle, Woking Park and Victoria Embankment Gardens.
In May 2011, the LWO was recorded by the BBC at the Maida Vale studios. The performance was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 as part of its Light Fantastic Music Festival.
The Linden Wind Orchestra produced its first commercial recording (White Sands) in 2005, under studio conditions on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. It comprises a selection of well-known orchestral pieces including:
-
Popular film music ("Pirates of the Caribbean" and various spaghetti westerns by Morricone).
-
A Surrey Suite - Montague Phillips.
-
Tunbridge Fair - a contemporary piece by Walter Piston.
-
A traditional American folk song - Black is the Colour of my True Love's Hair.
-
Fanfare and Soliloquy - Trevor Sharpe.
-
Welcome the Queen - Sir Arthur Bliss, composed to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Members of the LWO are largely non-professional, although several professional musicians work regularly with the ensemble. Many players are drawn from the ranks of the music teaching profession, and all play to a high standard.
Following the untimely death of the orchestra's founder and first Director of Music, Roger Phillips LWO has been privileged to work under the baton of Tom Higgins, David Smart, Matthew Scott-Rogers and Adam Broughton.
In March 2020 LWO was delighted to announce the appointment of Guy Bennett as Musical Director.
For more information please contact us.