The Orpington Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 74th Season in 2023/2024.

Founded in 1949, Orpington Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Joseph McMenemy for twenty-one years. Leonard Davis was appointed conductor in 1970, and continued to direct the orchestra for the next thirty years. Michael Axtell succeeded Leonard Davis in 2000. Raymond Lewis conducted the orchestra from 2003 to 2018 and Sean Morris took over for the 2018/2019 season.

Daniel Hogan conducted during our 2019/2020 season, and into the pandemic, finishing in December 2021. Emily Singh conducted from March 2022 and in December 2023 Dominic Wells took over this role.

The orchestra is now a fully independent organisation although it originally came under the auspices of Orpington and District Adult Education Centre, subsequently becoming part of Bromley Adult Education College. Throughout its life, the orchestra has been supported by Bromley Arts Council. Orpington Symphony Orchestra is a member of the National Federation of Music Societies.

The orchestra has established a regular pattern of three concerts: one in December, one in March, and the final concert of the season, in June.

Soloists who have appeared with Orpington Symphony Orchestra include:

Ralph Holmes
Levon Chilingirian
Irene Kohler
Hugh Bean
Colin Parr
William Overton
John Coulling
Julia Cload
Paul Barritt

Lorraine McAslan
Lionel Handy
Alison Kelly
Nigel Clayton
Gary Ryan
Gina McCormack
Francis Mason
Clare Hammond
Susie Meszaros

Ursula John
Madeleine Ridd
Raymond Lewis
David Owen Norris
Haru Ushigusa
Nelson Sinclair-Strong
Akito Goto