Coventry Orchestra celebrates city’s transport heritage in centenary concert

Heart of England Co-operative Concert Orchestra

COVENTRY ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES CITY’S TRANSPORT HERITAGE IN CENTENARY CONCERT

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Music and motors will be the order of the day in the next concert hosted by members of the Heart of England Co-operative Concert Orchestra.

The concert, taking place next week, is the fourth in the orchestra’s centenary series as it celebrates 100 years since being founded at Centaur Road Boys School in Earlsdon in 1917.

The multi-media event will feature old photos of Coventry as well as video extracts which will accompany the music.

Mark Wooton, conductor, said: “In the late 19th Century Coventry had become established as a major centre of bicycle manufacture. When the Centaur Orchestra, from which today’s orchestra developed, first took to the stage in 1917 the city was already making the transition to become the heart of the British motor industry.

“The concert celebrates the orchestra’s centenary in the context of the proud history of the city which has been its home for the last 100 years. It takes transport and the heritage of Coventry as its theme.”

The event will feature a selection of light and light classical music such as the theme music to Thunderbirds, The Flying Scotsman, Coronation Scot and the Coventry Suite.

Children from St John’s Primary School in Allesley and St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School in Wyken have also been involved in the preparations for the event through music teacher Katherine Owen, who is also a member of the orchestra. As well as organising composition workshops for the children on the back of the orchestra’s centenary, Katherine has recruited local artist Trudy Rees-Marklew to lead a junk modelling project in the schools, with the children creating transport-themed exhibits for the concert.

Sponsored by the Heart of England Co-operative Society, which has supported the orchestra since shortly after it was founded, the concert will raise funds for the Society’s nominated charity, Guide Dogs.

The event will take place at Central Methodist Hall in Warwick Lane, Coventry, on Wednesday, October 11th at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £8 for adults, with concessions at £6, or £1 for children.

They are available from [email protected] or on the door.

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