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Durham University Orchestral Society (DUOS), the University’s leading orchestral society, is comprised of Durham University Symphony Orchestra and Durham University Chamber Orchestra. DUOS prides itself on being entirely student-run, and covers a large range of demanding orchestra repertoire throughout the academic year. DUOS is also the longest-running orchestral society in Durham, having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015.

Members of the society are not only privileged to be a part of a friendly community of talented musicians, but also have the opportunity to receive coaching from members of the BBC Symphony and Royal Northern Sinfonia Orchestras. The society has been fortunate enough to work with professional conductors, such as John Wilson and Richard Dickins, in regular masterclasses. In addition to the plethora of concerts and social occasions throughout the year, DUOS also embarks on an annual tour abroad during the Easter vacation period; in recent years, destinations have included Berlin, Prague, Madrid, and Budapest, and we are incredibly excited to be performing in areas around Ljubljana this year.

Conductor of the Chamber Orchestra, John is a fourth-year Natural Scientist who is extremely active in the Durham music scene, having started off as principal flautist of the Palatinate Orchestra and performed Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ on the piano with them in his first year. He has since been Musical Director five times with the Durham University Light Opera Group (DULOG), as well as with his college choir and the in house jazz band ‘The Manglers’. In 2016, he was the Assistant Musical Director of a production at the Hackey Empire with the National Youth Music Theatre in the UK.

Alex conducts the Symphony Orchestra. He is a second-year Classics student whose interest in conducting began when he came second place in the inaugural City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra Young Conductors’ Competition. Apart from DUOS, he is also fully engaged in other facets of musical life in Durham, being the Musical Director of the Gospel Choir and having participated in a large number of DULOG productions. Outside of his musical commitments, he is passionate about rugby refereeing and hopes to persue a career in that field.

Hayley, a second-year Music student, is leader of the Chamber Orchestra. She started playing the violin at the age of five, and had achieved Grade 8 as well as two further diplomas by the age of 10, all with distinction; she also holds Grade 8 distinctions in piano and voice. She attended the Royal College of Music Junior Department in London where she received the Ruby White Prize in 2015. She thoroughly enjoys the vibrant music-making in Durham, leading an array of ensembles, as well as the pit orchestras in two opera productions at the Gala Theatre with the Durham Opera Ensemble (DOE).

Leader of the Symphony Orchestra, Sergei is a fourth-year Physicist who co-led the orchestra during his first two years at Durham and performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto alongside the orchestra in his second year. Before university, he studied at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music in London, and has also been in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He is also a keen chamber musician, having been involved in a large number of chamber music ensembles and attended chamber-centric music courses such as Pro Corda and MusicWorks.

PROGRAMME:

First half: Chamber Orchestra
conductor: John Reddel

1) Frederick Delius: Two Pieces for Small Orchestra

I. On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring

II. Summer Night on the River

2) Maurice Ravel: Le tombeau de Couperin

*****

Second half: Symphony Orchestra
conductor: Alex Mackinder

3) Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5 in E Minor, Op.64

Tickets: 10 €, 5 €