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The Thames Chamber Orchestra (= TCO) was formed by Michael Dobson in 1962 to take part in a series of concerts in the 14th century Parish Church at Kingston-upon-Thames. The orchestra soon became widely known through its many BBC broadcasts both from the studio and from its public concerts.
The TCO has appeared at the festivals at Windsor, Norwich, Fishguard, Nottingham, Cambridge, Pershore, Madley, and at many other venues in this country and abroad, including several visits to the Flanders Festival. The orchestra has given regular concerts at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall and has also appeared at the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and St. John’s, Smith Square. Programmes have ranged very widely with music from the 17th to the 20th century and the orchestra has commissioned several works from young British composers which have had their first performances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall followed by BBC studio broadcasts.
Within its repertoire, the orchestra has introduced many lesser known works of the great composers as well as numerous worthwhile pieces by their less famous contemporaries. The Thames Chamber Orchestra has always invited the finest chamber musicians to be amongst its members, and their sense of style and warmth of sound have frequently earned much praise both from the critics and from the many guest conductors who have worked with the orchestra.
Under its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Keith Marshall, the TCO performs regularly at St Martin-in-the-Fields, St John’s Smith Square and other major London venues, recently inaugurating a series of orchestral concerts at The Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington. The TCO also works regularly with the Choir of Christ's College, Cambridge, recently making a highly successful live broadcast on Classic FM from St John's, Smith Square. |
