Ipswich Symphony Orchestra

Congratulations to our amazing conductor, Adam Gatehouse, on reaching the milestone of an incredible 25-years with our orchestra. We all appreciate Adam's loyalty, dedication, and hard work, and our members were pleased to present him with gifts during our last concert. We are sure you will join us in celebrating Adam’s remarkable achievement and thanking him for his passionate inspiration and commitment.

Our orchestra is one of the oldest amateur orchestras in the UK, and we have been performing concerts in Ipswich since 1902. During the past 123-years, we have been fortunate to work with 16 conductors, with Edgar R Wilby being our longest serving (18-years from 1921 to 1939). The late Sir Colin Davis was our musical director in the mid-fifties, and at the turn of the century, he was delighted to learn of Adam’s appointment – both for Adam and for us.

Update - July 2025

Our musicians are looking forward to beginning our next rehearsal season, preparing for our Autumn Concert on Saturday 29 November, when we are overjoyed to welcome back Jeneba Kanneh-Mason to perform with us. Save the date, and we will let you know as soon as tickets are available from the box office.

Tickets will be *available soon* from the online box office: Quick Link to Box Office and on the door.

Remember to visit our Concert Dates & Programmes Page to see the exciting programmes we will be performing between now and the end of 2026 - and to save the dates!

Please explore our website to see what we do, and join us on our social networks too (simply click on the icons) 

Ipswich's Own Orchestra for 123-Years

Registered Charity No 276724

Ipswich Symphony Orchestra has performed concerts in Ipswich since 1902 and is one of the oldest amateur orchestras in the UK.  During more than a century of high quality music making, the Orchestra has built up an enviable reputation for performing adventurous and challenging programmes.

Previous conductors include Sir Colin Davis and Rumon Gamba. Our present conductor, Adam Gatehouse, has worked with the Orchestra since 2000, during which time the repertoire has been expanded and developed to encompass some of the greatest works of the symphonic repertoire - including symphonies by Mahler, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, as well as music by Beethoven, Strauss, Debussy and Leonard Bernstein.

In recent years the Orchestra has worked with some major world-renowned soloists including Alexandra Dariescu, Benjamin Baker, Martin James Bartlett, Savitri Grier, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Pavel Kolesnikov, Steven Osborne, Pavel Kolesnikov, Imogen Cooper, Jennifer Pike, Laura van der Heijden, Nicola Benedetti, Dame Felicity Lott, Julian Lloyd Webber and the Orchestra’s Patron, Noriko Ogawa, bringing some of the very best international talent to Ipswich audiences every season. 

Working within our community is important to the Ipswich Symphony Orchestra. Our Summer concert has been a significant component of Ipswich Summer Events for many years. In March each year we present an afternoon Family Concert which, by careful choice of popular music, aims to engage and inspire a new, young audience to take part in live musical performance.  

All our concerts are performed in the Ipswich Corn Exchange. Tickets are available from the Ipswich Arts and Entertainments Booking Office and orchestra members. Further information is available on the Tickets page. 

Ipswich Symphony Orchestra is a Member of the Ipswich Arts Association and the Making Music organisation.

If you wish to contribute to this website or contact Ipswich Symphony Orchestra,

please send an email to ios@wheatstone.co.uk

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Website Updated 28 July 2025