Renamed ‘Midland Concert Orchestra’ Make Swan Debut
Making their debut performing ‘The Golden Era of Swing’ the Midland Concert Orchestra (MCO) will be at The Swan Theatre, Worcester on Sunday 4th June.
Previously known as the West Midland Light Orchestra, and now under the baton of its young and inspirational conductor Joe Davies, the orchestra has gone from strength to strength attracting many new young aspiring musicians to join them. Playing songs from the American Popular Songbook, the orchestra felt it was the right time to change its name to fully reflect the music that they love and play.
Said Joe: “We are unique, a big band with strings, echoing the likes of Harry James, Artie Shaw and even Benny Goodman who added strings to his later orchestra. We are the only orchestra of its kind that I know of and very proud to have the name Midland now in our title.”
Joining musical director Joe Davies on stage will be guest vocalists Claire Worboys, Venetia Iga and Jonathan Darby, and compère for the evening Peter Tomlinson.
Peter is president of the MCO and well-known to many as the originator of Tiswas, a children's television series aired on Saturday mornings.
Said Peter: “I have always been a big band fan, even though it wasn’t fashionable to admit whilst buckets of water and custard pies were the order of the day in the 70s, and I still play drums in a jazz band and love compèring concerts.
“The MCO is such a wonderful collection of musicians and all monies raised from this event will be reinvested into the orchestra, so please do come along and support what is your orchestra!”
The concert will feature songs by Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Glenn Miller and others from the Golden Age of Swing. With over forty musicians and several guest singers who regularly perform with the MCO family, everyone brings their unique musical talents to each performance.
Doors open at 6pm and the concert begins at 7pm with tickets available from The Swan Theatre and their website priced at £15 for adults and £5 for under 18s.
Previously known as the West Midland Light Orchestra, and now under the baton of its young and inspirational conductor Joe Davies, the orchestra has gone from strength to strength attracting many new young aspiring musicians to join them. Playing songs from the American Popular Songbook, the orchestra felt it was the right time to change its name to fully reflect the music that they love and play.
Said Joe: “We are unique, a big band with strings, echoing the likes of Harry James, Artie Shaw and even Benny Goodman who added strings to his later orchestra. We are the only orchestra of its kind that I know of and very proud to have the name Midland now in our title.”
Joining musical director Joe Davies on stage will be guest vocalists Claire Worboys, Venetia Iga and Jonathan Darby, and compère for the evening Peter Tomlinson.
Peter is president of the MCO and well-known to many as the originator of Tiswas, a children's television series aired on Saturday mornings.
Said Peter: “I have always been a big band fan, even though it wasn’t fashionable to admit whilst buckets of water and custard pies were the order of the day in the 70s, and I still play drums in a jazz band and love compèring concerts.
“The MCO is such a wonderful collection of musicians and all monies raised from this event will be reinvested into the orchestra, so please do come along and support what is your orchestra!”
The concert will feature songs by Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Glenn Miller and others from the Golden Age of Swing. With over forty musicians and several guest singers who regularly perform with the MCO family, everyone brings their unique musical talents to each performance.
Doors open at 6pm and the concert begins at 7pm with tickets available from The Swan Theatre and their website priced at £15 for adults and £5 for under 18s.
