Newcomers' Guide
Freshers' Fair
Standard & Auditions
Rehearsals
Social Life
Repertoire
Concerts and Events
Concerto Opportunities
Tours
What ICSO members say about ICSO...
Freshers' Fair
The Imperial College Union Freshers' Fair is the best place to find out about ICSO - do come along to have an informal chat with the friendly committee members and get a better idea of we're about.
We'll also be giving out leaflets about our plans for the year, and there will be loads more pictures of previous events so you can see what we get up to, both musically and socially.
The Fair is on the first Tuesday of the Autumn Term and you can find us somewhere in... South Kensington! (We're not sure where yet). If you've got any questions in the mean time, please email us and we'll try to answer them for you.
Standard & Auditions
Due to the sheer number of excellent musicians at Imperial, membership of the Symphony Orchestra is through audition. The standard of players in the orchestra is around Grade 8+ and amongst us are several ex-members of the National Youth Orchestra as well as graduates of the junior departments of the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity College London... but don't be put off if you don't fall into those categories - anyone is welcome to audition! Please come to see us and sign up for a slot at the Freshers' Fair if you're interested!
Audition slots are available on the first two Wednesdays of the Autumn Term, in the afternoon. There will be 3 people on the audition panel (Richard Dickins - ICSO Conductor, Dan Capps - IC Sinfonietta Conductor, and the current ICSO Chair) and you will be asked to play 1 or 2 pieces (around 10 minutes of music) on your instrument as well as some sight-reading. An accompanist will not be provided and thus accompaniment is not expected; however, if you wish to arrange your own accompanist, please contact us to let us know in advance.
You will find out the results of your audition later that day. Don't worry if you don't get in this time - you can try again later in the year if a vacancy becomes available, or you can always audition next year. In the mean time, there are many other brilliant ensembles at Imperial, not all of which require you to audition to become a member - our links page will point you in the right direction.
Rehearsals
ICSO rehearsals take place in the Great Hall, Sherfield Building (level 2 of no.22 on the map), every Wednesday during term time from 7pm until 10pm. We have a short coffee break half way through and after the rehearsal we head off to a local watering hole for a pint or two! On end of term concert days we rehearse from 5pm until around 6:30pm (before the concert at 8pm), and very occasionally there are some weekend rehearsals. There are also 1 or 2 weekends away throughout the year - see below for more details. Prior to the Summer tour there will be an additional rehearsal schedule.
Social Life
ICSO is a great way of making friends who take music seriously but also enjoy socialising. In addition to going to the pub each week, various socials are organised throughout the term including ICSO Salsa and ICSO sports day. Last year, we saw Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Opera House, went to High Street Kensington's awesome Piano Bar and had meals at various restaurants including Strada and Giraffe. We usually head over to Imperial College Union after our concerts to dance like loons.
Repertoire
ICSO's most recent repertoire has included:
Peter Hope - Along the ShoreSibelius - Symphony No.5
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.3 (soloist: Charles Owen)
Mozart - Overture to the Magic Flute
Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet orchestral suites
Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No.1 (soloist: Michal Cwizewicz)
Michael Torke - Javelin
Saint-Saëns - Symphony No.3
Sibelius - Finlandia
Bruckner - Te Deum
Berlioz - Roman Carnival Overture
Wagner - Tannhauser Overture
Beethoven - Symphony No.9
Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring
Kodaly - Hary Janos Suite
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a theme
by Thomas Tallis
Concerts & Events
ICSO's main events are the concerts which take place in the Great Hall, Sherfield Building (level 2 of no.22 on the map) on a Friday night at the end of each term. They often include a concerto, with a soloist from Imperial or with a highly acclaimed professional - in Summer 2006 we were fortunate enough to work with the pianist Charles Owen. In addition, the orchestra has strong connections with a choir in Dorchester and visits the town each year for a weekend, usually in February. The weekend is spent rehearsing with the choir in preparation for a concert, which in the past has taken place in the prestigious Poole Lighthouse, home to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
During 2005-6 , ICSO took part in the Imperial College Union ArtsFest Charity Concert (helping to raise money for CRY), performed at a fundraising event in the beautiful Cadogan Hall and entertained more than 200 preparatory school pupils at the Dragon School in Oxford.
Concerto Opportunities
Auditions are held once a year (in June) for those who would like to be considered for a concerto performance with ICSO in the following academic year. You will be asked to play the entire concerto and an accompanist will be provided, although you may bring your own if you wish to. Please get in touch if you'd like to know more!
Tours
ICSO goes on tour every other summer - recent tours have been to the Czech Republic (2005) and Italy (2003). As well as the amazing opportunities to perform abroad and immerse ourselves in other cultures, tours really give us the chance to get to know each other better and are always loads of fun. The next tour will be in Summer 2008 and is currently being organised - more info coming soon!
What ICSO members say about ICSO...
"The Symphony Orchestra has been a highlight of my college life since my first week as a fresher. It's hard work but fun, and the results are amazing when it comes to the concert. The conductor and committee do a wonderful job in making it so more than just an orchestra - the socials are the best of their kind on campus"- Tristan, Double Bass
"There's never the fear of boredom in rehearsals with Richard. His passion for the music and witty repartee make the rehearsals something to look forward to" - Freddie, Bassoon
"The great thing about ICSO is that we can concentrate on the music without spending time worrying about the notes - it's inspiring to be involved in an orchestra of such a consistently high standard. This stems from Richard, who remains accessible while always managing to get the best out of us, but owes as much to the players. They are not only an outstandingly talented bunch (trumpeters excepted), but also as welcoming, friendly and fun a group of people as you could hope to meet... and I'm not just saying that because I fancy half of them" - Jan, Trumpet
"ICSO is proof to the world not only that scientists make the best music, but that they DO know how to have fun!" - Anna, Violin
"I joined ICSO as an old Postgraduate, and immediately became 18 again! Everyone was so sociable and they always encourage/bully you to go out for "just one quick drink" and relive your Fresher years. The standard of the orchestra is very high and now I've left I am struggling to find another amateur orchestra of the same professional standard, and one that gets to play with such internationally acclaimed artists. Definitely the best thing I've done at Imperial!" - Andy, Clarinet
"ICSO is simply the best group of fun friendly people I've met at Imperial. Good social life, good music, good gingers... come along!" - Hamish, Violin
"Only one thing can rival the great music-making ICSO indulges in: the tea and biscuits. Oh, and the fun. It's a lot of fun" - Anna, Violin
"The great thing about ICSO is that it is buzzing with enthusiasm... if I had to choose one word to describe the orchestra, it would be just that - enthusiastic. Students at Imperial study a variety of scientific subjects: there are many people who play musical instruments to a high level and I think that being given the opportunity to play such challenging repertoire with professional soloists (and working with an awesome conductor!) is something that such academics really indulge in. It is a release from everyone's scientifically-oriented routine and yet still mentally, emotionally and physically demanding. Everyone puts in 100%... and enjoys every minute of it!" - Tiana, Flute
"Wednesday evenings are the highlight of my week thanks to ICSO!" - Barny, Viola
"The ICSO tour to the Czech Republic was the best I've been on - the highlight of my year. I can't wait for the next one!" - Anna, Violin
