The Hayes Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1947 and is registered under the name of ‘Hayes Orchestral Society.’ An Annual General Meeting is held each year to which all players are invited.
We attract players from all over South East London including Croydon, Bromley, Beckenham, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, Hayes and West Wickham.
Our Conductor – Dan James
Dan is a conductor, cellist and educator whose musical career has taken him from Brighton to Bangalore.
As a cellist Dan has performed and broadcast commercially on BBC radio, Classic FM and ITV in musical settings ranging from full orchestra to cello quartet.
Alongside this he has worked on a number of West End productions and recorded for Linn Records.
The recipient of the George Hurst Conducting Prize from the Blackheath Conservatoire, Dan has worked with orchestras from both the UK and abroad. He began his conducting studies under Andrew Morley, later working with Sian Edwards, Denise Ham and Colin Metters.
Dan teaches cello and directs ensembles at Junior Trinity and Eltham College. As a mentor he works with postgraduate students on the joint Music Masters and Birmingham University PGCEi for instrumental teaching. The former Head of Strings at Highgate School, he is currently Director of Music at West Lodge Prep School and a staff conductor on the European Youth Summer Music course.
Dan is delighted to be back making music with the Hayes Symphony Orchestra, and looks forward to the musical highlights of the forthcoming seasons.
Our Leader – Amanda Clare
Amanda began her musical journey by winning a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music. There, she was a student of the renowned concert violinist Professor Haroutune Bedelian. During her time at the Academy, she began performing professionally with London orchestras and within the chamber music scene.
After leaving college, Amanda became a professional session musician, working with many commercial artists across a wide range of musical styles beyond classical music. She is an experienced jazz violinist and played for many years in an Irish folk band with a residency at the Mean Fiddler. In addition to performing regularly both in recording studios and live venues as a violinist and vocalist, she is also a string arranger.
Since 2003, Amanda taught at the Bexley Music Centre and is currently a peripatetic violin and piano teacher for Bromley Youth Music Trust. She maintains a private teaching practice and also runs Suzuki group lessons for very young children.
Amanda continues to teach and perform, and she is excited to be leading the Hayes Symphony Orchestra.
President
Simon Ballard
Vice-Presidents
Andrew Condon
Stephen Gates
Brian Lee
Committee
Samantha Carter (Chair & Membership Secretary)
Amanda Clare (Leader)
David Stern (Hon. Treasurer)
Dan Nasir-Hill
Catherine Todd (Librarian/Publicity)
Julia Challender (Hon. Secretary)
Brendan McCarthy
Dan James (Conductor)
Helen Dasley
Previous Conductors
Hayes Symphony Orchestra would like to give thanks to our previous conductors Felicity Cliffe, Paul Showell, Benjamin Ellin and Steven Moore who have worked with the Orchestra for a number of years. We wish them the best of luck for their future engagements.