Welcome to
our Chamber Orchestra

The Claud Powell Chamber Orchestra is a friendly group of amateur string and wind players who meet together on Monday nights during term-time to play mainly classical music. The name comes from the founder of the orchestra who was head of the Guildford School of Music from 1919 to his death in 1959.

Repertoire
Conductor
Membership
Rehearsals

We are a ‘rehearsal orchestra’ – that is, we meet to play for the enjoyment of the members rather than to prepare for concerts.

We meet in Shalford Village Hall but players come from all over the Guildford area.

Repertoire

We play works by everyone from Bach, Boyce, Beethoven, through Mozart & Mendelssohn to Prokofiev, Sibelius as well as more recent composers – and everything from orchestral suites to symphonies.

Conductor and Musical Director

Our Conductor and Musical Director is Matthew Lloyd-Wilson.

Photo of our conductor - Matthew Lloyd-Wilson

Matthew’s early career was as a boy chorister at Westminster Abbey, singing at numerous state occasions including the wedding of the current Prince and Princess of Wales. He also made a name for himself as a violinist, but for the last few years he has been concentrating more on conducting – starting with the Guildford Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Surrey University String Orchestra. He has also built up relationships with a range of other groups including Guildford Opera and Kingston Philharmonia.

Matthew took over as regular conductor of the Claud Powell Chamber Orchestra in February 2023. Previous conductors have included Professor Sebastian Forbes and the late David Stone.

Membership

Membership of the Claud Powell Chamber Orchestra is open to anyone aged 18 or over who has reached or exceeded Grade 6 standard on their instrument and to children of members who have also reached that standard. The cost is £60 per term (of 9-10 rehearsals).

We are currently seeking additional string players, violins and violas in particular. Horns, trumpets and percussion would also be welcome.

If you think you might like to join us, please email join@cpco.org.uk. As well as telling us your name and your instrument, please also give us an idea of how familiar you are with playing in an orchestra or other musical groups.

You are also welcome to come and try us out for free at one of our rehearsals (see below). Please email info@cpco.org.uk to let us know that you will be coming.

Forthcoming Rehearsals

Rehearsals are held 7.45 – 9.15pm in Shalford Village Hall
We meet in the Chinthurst Room CR2 (entrance to left of main building).
Please bring your own music stand.

Summer 2025 Term Rehearsal Dates

  • A total of 9 rehearsals:
  • April 28
  • May 12, 19
  • June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
  • July 7

We shall be working on:

  • Prokofiev – Symphony 1 (Classical)
  • Mendelssohn – Symphony 4 (Italian)
  • Wagner – Siegfried Idyll

We look forward to seeing you there!