Whether you are learning an instrument, played long ago or are really confident please come and join us (no audition is required, you just need to be able to read music and own your own instrument).

 

We rehearse on Wednesdays during term time at 7.15-8.45pm in the Gym at West Exe School. There is a charge of £8.00 per session and a termly membership fee of £10.

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We welcome adult players of any orchestral instrument at any ability.  Your level of playing will be catered for and all are included - we are a friendly group.  Feel free to download our orchestra flyer.

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For 2024, Harmony is grateful to have received Community Grant funding from Devon Community Foundation. This valuable funding will allow the group to continue to grow and bring music to the community.

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Harmony Orchestra launched its lottery page as part of the Exeter Community Lottery in September 2023. Please consider supporting us through this platform, tickets are £1 per week.  Proceeds received will go towards expanding our repertoire and bringing music performances to the community.

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History of Harmony

 

Harmony Adult All Ability Orchestra was founded in 2012 out of the establishment of the Harmony Music Centre.  The Music Centre was started in 2011 by local music teacher, Phil Makin, along with Graham Pearson and parents of some of Phil’s students.  The Centre grew to include several brass ensembles and mixed woodwind groups and as time went by, some of the parents who were keen but amateur musicians themselves, felt a desire to return to playing.  A search of Exeter revealed only established and capable orchestras and not the type of group the parents were looking for.  They persuaded another local music teacher, Judith Wooster, to lead a new all ability orchestra for adult musicians and Harmony Adult All Ability Orchestra held its first rehearsal in September 2012.  Judith took a break from the Orchestra for a few years to pursue other activities, during which time the Orchestra was led by several capable and kind musicians. In September 2017 Judith took up the baton once again and stepped down in March 2020.  In January 2023 Harmony was joined by Lynn Davidoff, a recent Canadian transplant to Exeter, who has a long history of working with ensembles in international schools. She is a flutist and has taught north American style full ensemble classes in both Strings and Concert Band.

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