Frequently asked questions

When is the next performance of The Coventry City of Culture Orchestra?

All performances are detailed on the 'Upcoming Events' page. 

Where do the orchestra rehearse?

We are very grateful to our friends at Coventry Central Hall, (CV1 2HA), who have helped make us a home for rehearsals and concerts. We rehearse in the Main Hall. There is a lift to this level.

The best parking option is the Salt Lane Car Park, which is a multi-storey pay-and-display owned and operated by the council. The cost (at last checking) was £1 per hour.

When do the orchestra rehearse?

Thursday evenings 7:30-10pm, during term time, on the run-up to a concert. This will usually be between 12-14 rehearsals, although some of these will be sectionals. Dates will be released in advance of registration for the orchestra on the Get Involved page.

Who can be in the orchestra?

This orchestra is for adults who can already play an instrument. This will be an excellently fun project to be a part of, and we want to create something of musical quality, which is why this is not open to beginners. 

We are particularly keen to encourage both those who have let their instruments gather dust to once again get their instrument out, as well as anyone who currently regularly pays with an ensemble also.

We would love to involve musicians who play instruments which are not normally part of the orchestra, so that we can perform music reflecting all of Coventry's musical culture. 

How much is membership?

We'd love to continue running this as a free group, but as our very kind initial sponsorship from the Methodist Church at Central Hall ended we have to change the way we work. There are many costs to running an orchestra, so we ask for a membership fee from musicians. This is detailed on the registration page.

We understand that this might not be the orchestra for everyone, so we had a 14 day refund policy if after the first few rehearsals you decide that this isn't for you. 

What will we be performing?

Our repertoire is wide-reaching. In our first concert in April 2022 we performed music from The Specials, Queen, The Mixtures...all the way through to Beethoven, Mahler, and Dvorjak. We are also very keen to support up-and-coming composers and arrangers, so if this is you, please send your scores to director@coventryorchestra.co.uk 

How can I join the Orchestra?

Head to the ‘get involved’ page, and follow the link.

Who else will be performing at the celebration concert?

We will occasionally be supported by a ‘festival chorus’, made up from local choirs and singers. If you’d like to get involved as a singer or representing a choir, then please register your interest on the Get Involved page.

We are also keen to work with other local groups, so if you are interested, please send an email to director@coventryorchestra.co.uk 

If you have further questions, please get in touch with Seb: mailbox@coventryorchestra.co.uk