Auditions/Joining policy

SSO aims to be an inclusive and friendly orchestra and as such does not hold formal auditions. It is expected that for performance in concerts, string players will have attained a minimum of grade six, however those learning instruments who have not achieved that level are most welcome to take part in rehearsals. Higher standards are expected of woodwind and brass players. On some occasions, it is at the conductor’s discretion that players are substituted for others.

Subscription fees structure and Gift Aid arrangements

The standard yearly subscription is £180 which may be paid in three instalments of £60 at the start of each term (September, January And December). If you can afford to pay the whole year in advance, that would greatly help with the Orchestra’s cashflow. If you do subsequently need to leave, we can refund you the fee for unused terms.

Concessions can be made available for those unable to afford full fees – please speak to or email the treasurer in confidence. Payment is made via our membership system using debit/credit cards or Paypal. Also cash or cheques are accepted, or direct transfer into the bank account at Lloyds 30-92-45 00924388. Please register through our membership system first whichever method you choose for payment.

As the SSO is a charity, your membership subscription is eligible for gift aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so please indicate your gift aid status in our membership system. This benefits the Orchestra as it is able to reclaim tax from the UK Government at no cost to you.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings during term-time, 7.45 to 9.45 at Christ Church, Christchurch Park, Sutton SM2 5TN. The rehearsal schedule is published here

Members are asked to arrive at the rehearsal in sufficient time to sort out their music and tune up, ready to start playing at 7.45 pm. Each member should bring their own music stand.

Please let your section leader know if you are not going to be able to attend a scheduled rehearsal. Principals are asked to arrange for deputies wherever possible and to advise the conductor if that is not possible so that the rehearsal plan can be amended if necessary.

Members are encouraged to take music home to practise, however please sign the music out, leaving a contact telephone number and ensure it is available for the next rehearsal.

Refreshments are usually provided halfway through the rehearsal: members are asked to contribute 50p per week to cover the cost of these and to bring their own mugs (although paper ones will be provided).

Pay by card/Apple Pay/Google Pay etc for as many weeks as you will attend via the QR code.

Member Communication

The committee communicates via the email address you provide through the membership system. Additionally, there is a whatsapp group where members can communicate with each other and which is also used for urgent information, such as a change of rehearsal time or venue etc.

To join this group, please use the following link or QR code:

Committee members/officers and election process

The Committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting which is held early in the Autumn term – please refer to the rehearsal schedule on our website. All paid up members are eligible to serve on the committee, and should make their willingness known to the Secretary one complete week prior to the meeting, the date of which will be notified well in advance. If there are more candidates than places, then an election will be held at the AGM.

The incumbents of the following chief officer positions are as follows:

Chairman: Secretary: Sue White
Hon Treasurer: Richard Ellis
(email treasurer AT suttonsymphonyorchestra.org)
Secretary: Stephen Bowell

Production Company

The orchestra’s production activities are principally run by a separate company, Sutton Symphony Orchestra Productions Limited and two representatives of the SSO committee are currently directors: Richard Ellis and Alex Clark.

Internet Presence

Visit our website at www.suttonsymphonyorchestra.org and also join our Facebook group “Sutton Symphony Orchestra”, X (formerly twitter) @suttonsymph and Instagram @suttonsymphony. You are encouraged to use social media to widen knowledge of the group and its activities.

Publicity

Members are asked to play their part in promoting the concerts of the Orchestra by distributing advertising material (such as leaving flyers in doctors’ surgeries, hairdressers etc and asking shopkeepers to display posters in their windows) and by actively selling tickets to friends and neighbours prior to the events, and through active sharing of social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Affiliations and Funding Acknowledgements

The Orchestra is affiliated to MakingMusic.

Charitable status

SSO is a registered charity, number 278867.