Southend Wind Orchestra

Southend Wind Orchestra

Southend Wind Orchestra has made a significant contribution to the local music scene, and has rapidly built a reputation for excellence. Among its membership are some very talented young musicians and experienced players. SWO perfoming at the Bandstand

The Orchestra regularly gives concerts at venues around Essex and has performed at the bandstands in Castle Park, Colchester and St James Park, London. They participate in joint concerts and have worked with prestigious groups such as Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir, Trillogy, Lee Mead from Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and even performed in a London concert in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal.

The repertoire includes the whole range of symphonic wind band music, both traditional and contemporary; Bach, Bartok, Holst, Meyerbeer, Rimsky-Korsakov and Verdi; 20th century pieces written by Albert, Bacalov, Gershwin, Miller and Schonberg; music from shows such as “Miss Saigon”, "Les Miserables" and "My Fair Lady" and contemporary music from writers like John Dankworth, Martin Ellerby, Adam Gorb, Paul Hart, Charles Hine, Nigel Hess, Philip Sparke and Guy Wolfenden.


Southend Wind Orchestra offers high playing standards – the entrance standard is minimum of grade 6 for players, but principals and many others are of grade 8 and upward and we enjoy a challenging repertoire which embraces the full range of contemporary and traditional music written for the symphonic wind band.

You will find us a friendly group who enjoy our weekly rehearsal for both the musical challenges and the company of other musicians. We offer a warm welcome to anyone interested in applying for membership.

Rehearsals take place at:Chalkwell Park Methodist Church Kingsway,
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 9XF (Entrance on Eastwood Lane South)
on Wednesday evenings, 7.45 pm until 9.45 pm