West Road Concert Hall, 3 Oct 2026
An exciting programme of early 20th-century English works
THE SAMPSON ORCHESTRA OF CAMBRIDGE, conducted by Darrell Davison, performs an exciting programme of early 20th-century English works. Edward Elgar's Cockaigne Overture (1901) is followed by John Ireland's Piano Concerto (1930), featuring star soloist Christos Fountos. The second half of the concert comprises William Walton's monumental Symphony No. 1 (1935). The local charity which will benefit from this concert is Petals: The Baby Loss Counselling Charity.
The Cambridge Orchestra was founded in 1987 by the late Charles Sampson in response to requests for a new symphony orchestra which could harness the very talented players and music teachers within the Eastern Counties to perform large-scale classical repertoire to the highest standards.
Many internationally acclaimed soloists have performed with the Cambridge Orchestra: these have included Tasmin Little, Piers Lane, Timothy Hugh, and David Campbell. The Orchestra has also presented Gala Ballet with Wayne Sleep and members of National Youth Ballet of Great Britain, and has participated regularly in the Cambridge Music Festival.
In 2010 the governing organisation was changed into a charitable trust, registered with the Charity Commission, and the opportunity was taken to adopt a new name for the orchestra to commemorate its founder - The Sampson Orchestra of Cambridge.
A particularly important sphere of the Cambridge Orchestra's activities has been to work with local charities, amongst them the Arthur Rank Hospice, the Anglia Ruskin University Music Therapy Appeal, Cambridge Mencap, CamSight, and The Sick Children's Trust. The Sampson Orchestra continues to do so as an important part of its charitable status.
The orchestra consists of around fifty regular members. There are no subscriptions and musicians play by invitation. The orchestra performs around four concerts a year and rehearses in Cambridge.
One of Cambridge’s premier music venues and is part of Cambridge University
11 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DP
01223 335 184 / wrch@mus.cam.ac.uk