The original roots of the Orchestra go back to the Folkestone Municipal Orchestra, who regularly performed in the Leas Cliff Hall. They were established in the early 1920’s as a very proficient professional orchestra. In 1932, local musician Mr Alfred Dixon decided it was time that amateur players in Folkestone had their own orchestra and formed (and Conducted) the Folkestone Amateur Orchestral Society. This ran alongside the Hythe Orchestral Society for a number of years, when the two orchestras finally merged in 1961, thus creating the Folkestone & Hythe Orchestral Society that we have today. This is still the official Registered Charity name for the orchestra, although we now perform under the name of ‘Folkestone Symphony’.

More history – In 1930, shortly after the opening of the Leas Cliff Hall in 1927, an augmented Folkestone Municipal Orchestra gave a series of annual Music Festivals in this local newly built prestigious local venue, attracting guest conductors such as Sir Henry Wood, Dame Ethel Smyth and Susan Spain-Dunk. Sir Edward Elgar was also due to conduct in the first of these concerts in 1930, but was sadly unable to attend due to ill health. Susan Spain-Dunk of course, is one of Folkestone’s greatest musicians, whose works you will have heard us play from time to time. Growing up in Folkestone, Susan became a renowned violinist, conductor and composer and was one of the earliest women conductors at the London Promenade Concerts. We have had the privilege of working with Susan’s family over the years and have managed to uncover and explore some of her previously forgotten works. We’re very pleased to say that her works are gradually being played more, getting the exposure they deserve, with her clarinet concerto having been performed at the World Clarinet Fest in Rino, Nevada in 2022.

Today – Very few towns can boast having their own symphony orchestra. In recent times, we have earned some worthy reviews such as:

• “After the interval Rachmaninoff’s 2^nd Symphony was a perfect choice to allow the orchestra to perform a work on a massive scale. The clear and confident direction from Rupert Bond gave the orchestra the confidence to perform the music well. The long dominant pedal notes (great Tuba again) gave us an agonising wait for resolution, but when it came, it was glorious, with the final exciting chords leading to tumultuous applause from the capacity audience. Well done to the orchestra for putting on such a brave and satisfying programme!” (David Burridge)

• “The players were so obviously enjoying every minute of making music – an orchestra of expert players will raise the temperature so much that the audience will not be able to resist applause at the end. And so it was here. Folkestone really does have an orchestra equal to the professionals. When the enthusiastic applause came it was a fitting tribute to a musical director and orchestra which gives such pleasure to its players and supporters” (David Pestell)

• “Folkestone Symphony has built a substantial audience from its local community because of the quality of its music making” (Dr Berkeley Hill)

• “This was another highly enjoyable concert by Folkestone Symphony’s talented musicians who bring considerable pride to the local musical community for their achievements” (Brinley & Janet Hughes)

We are indeed very fortunate in having both Rupert & Flo at the helm of the orchestra. Both are extremely fine musicians, to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude.

Folkestone enjoys the official status of being the ‘World’s First Music Town’ and we feel very proud to have been contributing to the achievement of that success for the past 65 years. It has been extremely satisfying for us to experience a steady growth in our audience numbers over more recent years, so long may we continue to provide this unique amenity within our local community.