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Welcome to the website of Reading’s Aldworth Philharmonic, a high-standard, non-professional orchestra run entirely by volunteers in Berkshire, England.

Check our About Us page to find out more about us, or simply explore the news items and blog posts listed below.

Latest news

Five questions with Mel

Five questions with Mel

January 20, 2026January 20, 2026 Andrew Taylor

Our wonderful assistant MD, Mel Le Breuilly, is conducting her first full concert this month. Mel has been part of

Photos from our February and June 2025 events

Photos from our February and June 2025 events

July 19, 2025July 19, 2025 Andrew Taylor

In pictures: October 2024 concert and rehearsals

In pictures: October 2024 concert and rehearsals

December 8, 2024December 8, 2024 Andrew Taylor

Season Launch Event 2024-25

Season Launch Event 2024-25

October 2, 2024October 2, 2024 Andrew Taylor

Photos from string workshop

Photos from string workshop

July 6, 2024July 6, 2024 Andrew Taylor

aldworthphil

Innovative non-pro orchestra in #rdguk
Next event - 30th January

A little snippet from last night's lovely Myths an

A little snippet from last night's lovely Myths and Legends concert, taken on a mobile phone. 'One of the greatest segues of all time' - the transition from the 3rd movement into the finale of Sibelius's Second Symphony. What a lovely evening!

🔥 Francesca da Rimini in 75 Seconds What's a fier

🔥 Francesca da Rimini in 75 Seconds

What's a fiery whirlwind in the Second Circle of Hell got to do with one of Tchaikovsky's most thrilling orchestral works?

Here's a quick guide from our @apomusicdirector, Andrew, to one of the highlights of our Myths and Legends concert on 24th October.

🎟 Tickets available via the link in our bio.

#Tchaikovsky #FrancescaDaRimini #MythsAndLegends #AldworthPhilharmonic #APOReading ReadingEvents

If these are APO players' answers, can you guess t

If these are APO players' answers, can you guess the question? And how many did it take you before you twigged? Be honest!

And while we're at it, what's yours? Maybe the one we're playing on Saturday 24th October?

VOLUME UP! 🔊 A little taste of the energy from Rea

VOLUME UP! 🔊 A little taste of the energy from Reading Station yesterday afternoon... 🚂🎶

Here is a quick, raw snippet of the orchestra in full swing on the station footbridge yesterday. The mobile phone audio doesn't quite do the massive, brilliant sound of the band justice, but you can certainly feel the incredible energy Andrew and the team brought to the station!

If a 60-piece symphony orchestra sounds this powerful in a busy transport hub, wait until you hear them in a stunning church setting with proper concert acoustics.
There is still time to join us THIS AFTERNOON for the main event! 🇪🇸⛪🎻

We are bringing this fiery, high-energy Spanish-themed programme to Wokingham for ¡Arriba at All Saints!

📅 TODAY – Sunday 19th July at 4:30 pm
🍷 Drinks bar open from 3:45 pm
📍 All Saints Church, Wokingham

🎟️ NEVER BEEN TO A CLASSICAL CONCERT?
If you or someone you know has never experienced a live symphony orchestra before, you can claim a completely FREE ticket via our Concert Virgin scheme.

🚪 TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR:
Yes, you can absolutely turn up and buy your tickets on the door this afternoon (both cash and card accepted)!
Alternatively, skip the box office queues and secure your seats online right now before you leave the house:

🔗 Book your tickets here:
https://aldworth.wufoo.com/forms/z14bbh8w0909mct/

We can't wait to see a packed Wokingham crowd!

#Wokingham #WokinghamEvents #WokinghamLife #Berkshire

📸 Final prep is underway! Since it looks like we’

📸 Final prep is underway!

Since it looks like we’ll all be throwing our support behind Spain this weekend anyway, we’re getting into the spirit early... ⚽

The orchestra is sounding absolutely fantastic as we head into our final rehearsals, shaping up a brilliant, high-energy Spanish-themed programme.

Here is how you can join the fiesta this weekend:

🎺 Saturday: ¡Fiesta on the Footbridge! Reading Station (3:00 pm). A free, lively pop-up performance right on the transfer deck. It's spontaneous, fun, and you can even have a go at conducting us!

⛪ Sunday: ¡Arriba at All Saints! All Saints, Wokingham (4:30 pm). Settle in, grab a drink from the bar, and lose yourself in the gorgeous, cool acoustics for the full, uninterrupted concert.

🎟️ Head to the link in our bio to secure Sunday tickets (including our free Concert Virgins scheme)! 👉 @aldworthphil

📸 Brilliant rehearsal photos by Phil Creighton of @@cheeselogsrdg

#APO #AldworthPhilharmonic #ReadingStation #Wokingham #AllSaintsWokingham #ReadingTown #BerkshireMusic #LiveMusicBerks #SpanishThemed #OrchestraRehearsal #SupportLocalMusic #ConcertVirgins

A clip from the finale of Borodin’s Second Symphon

A clip from the finale of Borodin’s Second Symphony, filmed at All Saints Wokingham in our January concert.

We’re now exactly one week away from ¡Fiesta on the Footbridge! at Reading Station — and if the percussion energy in this reel excites you, next weekend’s programme has an even bigger section and the same mix of excitement and lyricism.

Hear the orchestra live in the venue where this was recorded at ¡Arriba at All Saints! next Sunday.

🎟️ Tickets: aldworthphilharmonic.org.uk/next-event

Rehearsals have officially started for our upcomin

Rehearsals have officially started for our upcoming summer performances, and the energy in the room was fantastic! 🎶 We’re working hard on preparing a wonderful, uplifting Spanish-themed programme, especially for our main concert:

¡Arriba at All Saints! (Sunday 19th July, 4.30pm) – A colourful, lively concert inside the beautiful All Saints Church, Wokingham. This is our full, ticketed performance for the weekend, and we'd love your support in filling the church! Tell your friends, put the date in your diary, and head to apo.org.uk (#linkinbio) to book your tickets now.

Ahead of that, we will also be performing ¡Fiesta on the Footbridge! on the transfer deck at Reading Station on Saturday 18th July from 3pm. It’s a free pop-up event, so if you're travelling through or out and about in town, come along and enjoy some vibrant orchestral music with us!

It was great to have @apomusicdirector back on the podium for the first time since October. To celebrate the occasion, he took these obligatory selfies capturing the beaming smiles of the band.

We can't wait to see you at both events!

#AldworthPhilharmonic #RdgUK #WokinghamCommunity #UKMusicians #SummerConcerts #BerkshireEvents

From the depths of January to the height of summer

From the depths of January to the height of summer... ☀️

It’s hard to remember the chill of winter when the weather is this sultry. But back in the cold of January, the music of Frederick Delius was providing all the warmth we needed.

Relive that radiant glow with this snippet from our performance of The Walk to the Paradise Garden. 🎶

A moment of calm, courtesy of our principal flauti

A moment of calm, courtesy of our principal flautist, Debbie, and Claude Debussy, as we embark 'En Bateau'. ⛵

APO members are waking up with a spring in their s

APO members are waking up with a spring in their step, this morning, after a joyous evening at All Saints Wokingham. Assistant MD, Mel, stepped out to cheers from the capacity audience and directed the orchestra in a fantastic performance of a beautiful and dynamic programme. We're so lucky to have her and are looking forward to the next time she takes to the podium. 😍

Orchestra swap! With assistant MD Mel conducting o

Orchestra swap! With assistant MD Mel conducting our concert on Saturday evening, she obviously needed to be at Friday's rehearsal. But what to do with her young charges in @reading_youth_orchestra who rehearse at the same time? Simple: APO MD and RYO alumnus, Andrew was delighted to have the honour of directing the RYO rehearsal. Good times had by all!

Tickets are selling fast for Saturday's performance. Get yours from #linkinbio

#orchestra #wokingham #rdguk #classicalmusic #orchestralife

We love relaxing, calming, soothing classical musi

We love relaxing, calming, soothing classical music...but we also love all the other types that come from great orchestral writing. Come and hear a wide range of orchestral colours and moods, this Saturday evening, 7.30pm, All Saints Wokingham. Tickets from #linkinbio

#wokingham #orchestra #classicalmusic #borodin #orchestralife

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For older news items and blog posts, please visit our news archive page.

Next events

Friday 18th December - Festive String Workshop and Social

Saturday 30th January, 7.30pm, "A Romantic Trio"

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