Statement from the Chairman
The Folkestone & Hythe Orchestral Society is an amateur orchestra, consisting of members of all age groups, who are highly motivated and who enjoy making music together.
We are a registered charity and our constitution states that our aim is “to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in the appreciation of the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts and recitals and by such other ways as the Society through its Committee shall determine from time to time.”
Despite that rather grand statement the orchestra is a friendly group of people who meet up once a week to rehearse for the concerts in hand.
We have almost 40 active playing members, drawn from a wide area including Deal, Ashford & The Weald. We are supported by our President: Mrs Celia Blakey, and also a number of people who choose to become Friends of the Orchestra. Our Vice-Presidents are persons to whom the orchestra wishes to express special thanks and appreciation.
We owe much of our continuing success to our enthusiastic members and also to the skills of both our conductor: Andrew Lowen and our leader: Floriane Peycelon who all work hard to give three concerts a year in December, March & July, usually to very appreciative audiences.. Andrew and Floriane are both very fine musicians who push the members to give their best to the music but who make our rehearsals both constructive and enjoyable.
The orchestra meets at the Folkestone School for Girls in Coolinge Lane on Monday evenings during school terms, from 7.30 to 9.30pm.
We are affiliated to Making Music (formerly the National Federation of Music Societies).
Our income is derived from membership fees, concert takings, donations and sponsors. We are non profit-making and at many of our concerts we will aim to support a local charity by giving them the opportunity to raise more awareness of their charity at the event and hopefully attract a larger audience, in return for a share of the proceeds.
Derek Kemp
Chairman of the Society
