The orchestra consists of 40-50 amateur players. We all get together in Cambridge with a view to playing music as a group in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
As a registered charity, the orchestra is funded primarily by subscriptions from its members, supplemented by donations from supporters and grants from the Cambridge City Council.
The ethos for concerts is to perform to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to hear live music in venues such as residential homes for the elderly, primary schools and local hospitals. We occasionally give public concerts in larger venues.
In past concerts, we have performed music from a wide range of genres including popular classical (such as Elgar, Saint-Saens), jazz (Ellington), light music (Binge, Coates), TV and radio themes (Blue Peter, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, Blackadder), and shows (Bernstein and Rodgers) as well as contemporary composers such as Malcolm Arnold and William Walton. Most importantly, the orchestra has never lost sight of its original objective - that the joy of music is to entertain and to be entertained.
Guest soloists have performed at the CCO's concerts over the years, including the opera singer Ian Wallace, for many years the orchestra's President.
About our Musical Director
Our Musical Director is Suzanne Dexter-Mills. Suzanne lives and teaches in Suffolk where she directs ensembles in schools and for the Suffolk County Music Service. She conducts the South Suffolk Youth Orchestra and regularly coaches the woodwind section of the National Children's Orchestra. In addition, she finds time to play as principal clarinettist in the Wolsey Orchestra, the Churchgate Sinfonia and Churchgate Wind Octet.
Suzanne has enjoyed conducting the Cambridge Concert Orchestra since 2002.