Hallam Sinfonia

2024 marks the beginning of the next 50 years for Hallam Sinfonia! After our year-long 50th anniversary celebrations, which ended with our first concert since his appointment under our new Musical Director Jon Malaxetxebarria, not to mention birthday cake, we are looking forward to many more fruitful experiences with Jon.

Set up originally as a small chamber orchestra, our repertoire nowadays extends from the baroque to the 21st century, including large-scale romantic works, and from the mainstream classics to film music and children’s concerts. Established in 1973, we’re Sheffield’s outstanding amateur symphony orchestra, performing four core concerts a year plus other collaborative events in the city. We strive for the best performances of really exciting programmes. Home of the incredible ‘Passenger Seats’ concerts where we expand the orchestra out and fit the audience inside…! There is really nothing like experiencing an orchestra from within!

Keep reading to learn about all the amazing concerts we got to perform last year…

Hallam Sinfonia’s 2024:

- We started the year off with a bang by joining our friends at Newland Symphonic Pop for a Muse Symphonic show at the city hall. Live orchestra plus live band plus amazing singers performing amazing arrangements of all the best Muse hits. What a night to liven up January!

- In February we joined our friends at Concerteenies to bring the amazing stories of Stan and Mabel to life with fabulous live narration by Paul Rissman annd Polly Ives, along with lots of audience interaction. We had such fun at these family concerts and it was fab to see over 600 children and their adults getting involved and having fun with amazing music. We got the chance to work with the brilliant conductor Helen Harrison for this concert too.
We can’t wait to do it all again on 3rd May 2025!

- Our March concert was a real emotional powerhouse with Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration and Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony, alongside an incredible new composition we commissioned by Chris Noble. A concert full of darkness yet full of hope too.

- In May we put on a brilliant Fillm Music concert that really showcased our amazing wind and brass section! Our members also introduced the pieces with their personal stories that connected them, and they were at times both hilarious and deeply touching.

- In June it was time for our famous Passenger Seats concert, where the audience can choose to sit within the orchestra, for a concert experience like no other. We invited back one of our favourite guest conductors, the amazing Ellie Slorach, who programmed a concert full of magic and fairytales.

- October saw us launching our new 24/25 season with a trip into the skies. A rare chance to see Ligeti’s ‘Atmospheres’ performed in Sheffield alongside Sibelius ‘Oceanides’ and Mahler’s First Symphony. All for £12.50! Don’t say we don’t treat our audiences!

- As you might be able to tell, we love collaborating with other musical groups in the city and we thoroughly enjoyed our concert with our friends at Hallam Choral Society in November. A moving and uplifting concert in honour of a special choir member.

- And Finally!! In December we put on our very first Christmas Concert! We were delighted to be joined by the amazing Steel City Choristers join us and make it extra special. We had such fund performing and we were so chuffed to be able to raise over £400 for Sheffield charity Roundabout.

Phew - what a year! And here’s to even more exciting concerts in 2025.