We meet on a monthly basis at Culmstock Village Hall EX15 3HF 10.am – 4.30pm.

All our rehearsals are tutored; for rehearsal dates click here.

SWBO is composed of both amateur and professional players and is run on a subscription basis (£20 per rehearsal), with bursaries for students and unemployed; there is no charge for professional players who want to learn about the baroque style. Professional baroque specialists will be paid as soloists with the orchestra.

In addition to enjoying playing together as an orchestra, the aim of SWBO is to work on technical and musical points of  baroque style.  The day is broken down into 4 sessions, half of which are dedicated to working on repertoire in fine detail for the next concert, but we also include a concerto slot, which gives members or non members an opportunity to try out a concerto.  Sight reading new repertoire is another apart of the day’s rehearsal.

Concertos planned for the 2023 – 2024 season are: Corelli Christmas Concerto Op 6 No 8 (Violins Katie McConochie & Martin White; cello Jacqui Robertson-Wade), Bach Concerto for Violin & Oboe (Michael Williamson & Zoë Cartlidge), Fialla Gamba Concerto (Jacqui Robertson-Wade), Vivaldi Cello Concerto in Gm (Christine Land) and Bach Cantata Ich Habe Genug BWV 82 (Bass Alan Rowland & Oboe Zoë Cartlidge).

Concertos played so far in 2023 include: Heinichen Oboe Concerto in Gm (Zoë Cartlidge), Vivaldi Concerto for 2 Cellos in Gm (Jacqui Robertson-Wade & Stephen Brown), Vivaldi Concerto for Anna Maria in Bm (Emma-Marie Kabanova) and Telemann Concerto for 2 Violas in G (Poppy Holtom & Richard Thompson).

Please get in touch with us if you would like to play a concerto with the orchestra.