Southgate Symphony Orchestra
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Southgate Symphony Orchestra is an amateur orchestra based in Southgate, North London. It is conducted by Adrian Brown, who took over from Alex Eadon in July 2007, and led by Angela Hunt.
The Orchestra was formed in 1961 when a group of enthusiasts from New Barnet asked Terry Hawes to conduct them. In 1963, Terry Hawes became a music lecturer at Southgate College and the New Barnet group formed the foundations of an evening class he ran at the College. The Orchestra often performed at the Gladys Child Theatre under the batons of Terry Hawes, Neil Cloake, Chris Hayward, Michael Whittaker and others. Other concerts took place at locations around Enfield.
In 1997, the Southgate College Symphony Orchestra, as it was then known, became semi-autonomous. Subsequent sharp rises in fees charged by Southgate College led to a petitioning of Enfield Council to comply with guidelines for the provision of activities for the over 50's, in conjunction with Enfield Over 50's Forum. In July 2005, the Orchestra became independent of Southgate College and re-named itself Southgate Symphony Orchestra.
The inaugural concert was held on 11 December 2005 at St. Peter's Church and included Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D, with Gavin Davis (violin).
On 20 December 2007, Southgate Symphony Orchestra became a registered Charity (number 1122087).
