We are always pleased to hear from enthusiastic string players, regardless of your instrument.  

We have a simple introductory procedure. The first time you attend, you will be introduced to our conductor, Richard Howarth and our Leader, who will organise somewhere for you to sit for that evening and after a week or two, we will ask you to sit next to your section principal for half a rehearsal. This will help us place you somewhere we think you will be happiest.

Rehearsals are on Mondays, from  8:00 – 10:00pm, in St Paul’s Church Hall, 15 Springfield Road, Sale, M33 7YA.  There is a short break in the middle of each rehearsal to allow time for tea, biscuits and all important chatting.  Rehearsals are broken into three terms, roughly equivalent to school terms.  Please arrive early enough for a prompt start and if possible bring a music stand.  We expect permanent members to attend regularly, especially in the weeks before a concert. You aren’t required to be able to play for every concert, but we ask players to sign up for those that they are available for, so that we can ensure a balanced ensemble. We usually give up to six concerts a year, mostly in and around Sale, but sometimes outside the Manchester area.

The orchestra is entirely self financing. We ask you to pay an annual subscription of £105 (£75 for students, pensioners and the unwaged). This can be paid annually or by term.

To hear what our current players have to say about playing in our orchestra, please see ‘Our Players’.