Newbury Symphony Orchestra

Online Historical Archive Pages

The Newbury Symphony Orchestra is the local amateur symphony orchestra for the town of Newbury, Berkshire, having been founded on November 27 1879 as the Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union. It is one of the oldest continually functioning amateur orchestras in England, and we are fortunate enough to have a comprehensive set of records dating from the earliest days.

I have been asked the question “which is the very oldest continuously operating symphony orchestra in Britain”. My guess is that this distinction belongs to the Gorton Philharmonic Society, founded in 1854, and of course the Hallé Orchestra which was founded in 1857. The Newbury Symphony Orchestra is certainly one of the oldest orchestras in the south of England.

List of Records in our Possession

These records contain much of local historical interest. Our plan is to gradually make some material in these archives available online, as time and webspace allows. Anyone wishing to study the material is invited to contact the orchestra chairman. Available material includes:-

Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union Secretary’s Minutes 1880-1887

Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union Minute Book May 1881-May 1884

Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union Minute Book 1887-1911

Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union Minute Book 1911-1923

Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union Minute book 1923-1934

Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union Minute book 1935-1950

Newbury Symphony Orchestra Minute book 1950-1972

Newbury Symphony Orchestra Minute book 1973- 1990

Newbury Symphony Orchestra Minute book 1990- 1998

Newbury Symphony Orchestra Minutes 1999-2003

Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union Treasurer’s Accounts 1879-1889

NAOU List of members, Dates of Concerts etc. 1879-1889

NAOU attendance register 1894-1919

NAOU attendance register 1934-1950

NAOU attendance register 1950- 1964

NAOU attendance register 1967- 1991

NAOU Press Cuttings and Programs 1904-1928

Contains:

Press cuttings from Newbury Weekly News, Newbury Chronicle, Western Gazette

Assorted Programs

Booklet: “A short history of the NAOU from its beginnings to the present time”,

E.L. Staples 1919, printers G W Simpson

Booklet: “A short history of the NAOU from its beginnings to the present time”,

E.L. Staples 1929, printers G W Simpson (updates the above),

NAOU Press Cuttings and Programs 1934-1944

Booklet: Newbury Symphony Orchestra a Centenary History1879-1979 by Judith Warden Eykyn publ. Kinsgclere Publications 18pp

Most concert programs from 1913 onward:-

Joint NAOU and NCS Commeration Concert 1913 (on the 30th anniversary of Newbury Choral Society)

David Cooper

NSO Chairman

19/10/2008