Penzance Orchestral Society History


Penzance Orchestral Society - Centenary Concert held 30th March 2007	17 March – 2 June 2007 A Century of Music: Penzance Orchestral Society - Exhibition at Penlee House	A book celebrating the Centenary

A Century of Music: Penzance Orchestral Society

Walter Barnes, Conductor : portrait by Stanhope Forbes.

Founder members of the Orchestra: The Clefs.

St John's Hall, Penzance - c.1900

This postcard was sent in 1905 to a relative in Gulval. The next year, 1906, the Penzance Orchestral Society was founded - giving concerts in St John's Hall from 1907 and still continuing today.

Some Concerts performed by the Penzance Orchestral Society 1907 to 2008.

Conductor 1: Walter Barnes (1907-1941) - last concert peformed 1941, died 1942

Conductor 2: R.J. Maddern Williams (1942-1946) conducted the Orchestra while Walter Barnes was ill and after his death, until Walter's intended successor returned from War Service in the Navy.

Conductor 3: John Morgan Hosking (1946 - 1981) was a former pupil of Walter Barnes, and it was Walter's wish that he should become conductor.

Conductor 4: David Ball

Conductor 5: Judith Bailey

Penzance Orchestral Society Members also played at - Penzance Choral Society events.

It is noteworthy that members of the Orchestral Society freely gave of their time and talents to support local events.

Some of the early members of the Orchestral Society had other talents, too.

We've been resarching the history of the Penzance Orchestral Society for some years and are happy to publish it via the internet. If you have any comments, or would like to send us some information, we'd love to hear from you so please email us