A new Amateur Orchestra for Berkshire
"When we set up the orchestra in 2025 we'd expected at best a small chamber group - we live in an area with a lot of established orchestras. What we got was the makings of a small symphony orchestra which is just fantastic."
- James, Chairman and Co-Founder WPO
When two music-loving friend and medics, James Weitz and Richard Bishop, founded the Wokingham Philharmonic Orchestra the aim was to create the kind of orchestra they would want to play in: ambitious in its musical standards; welcoming, friendly and supportive in its atmosphere; rehearsals that are focused and fun. They also wanted to share their enthusiasm for the orchestral repertoire with Wokingham and the wider Berkshire area, committing to performing 2 concerts a year at a local venue. The result is a new orchestra with a unique identity and character, one that has managed to balance a drive for achieving a high standard without compromising the fun and friendliness of rehearsals.
Our members span generations, from Gen Z to Boomers. Some are lifelong orchestral players; others are rediscovering instruments that have spent years in cupboards, or have taken up a new instrument as adults. That mix of experience and enthusiasm is one of the things that makes WPO special. We love that!
Get more details about WPO here.
Joining WPO
"If you're thinking about joining us...come and try us. Come along for a rehearsal, or even a few, because orchestras are kinda like clothing - you try out something and the size might be too small or too big but you wont know until you try it on. Come and try us - I'm sure you'll like it with us!"
- Natalie, French Horn
We asked our members what surprised them about WPO when they joined - the answers were the same: the friendliness and the supportive atmosphere. If you are interested in joining, bring your instrument along to a rehearsal - you will find welcoming and experienced amateur musicians, approximately Grade 7 and above, committed to achieving greatness and having fun doing it!
"I think like many people I wasn't sure if I'd be good enough, .. I'm definitely not the best violin player in the orchestra but I very much enjoy it and I feel I do contribute to it and it's great fun!"
- Steve, 2nd Violin
Try our FAQ page if you have questions about the orchestra and check out our vacancies page
At a Glance
Rehearsal time: Wednesday evenings, 7.30 - 9.15 PM
Rehearsal venue: Windmill Primary School, Fernlea Dr, Wokingham RG41 3DR
Standard: Approximately grade 7 and above but get in touch
Annual Subscription: £180 with £120 concessionary rate, come and try us first!
Concerts: Target 2 per year at local venue
Our Musical Director
Our Musical Director, Richard Bishop, is also a co-founder of the orchestra, a GP, a choral scholar from Royal Holloway college and a conductor with 15+ years of conducting in numerous musical societies across the UK. Oh and bagpipe player.
Check out his bio here
Our Leader
Robin Scurlock, our leader, has a musical career stretching back to school days and Southampton Youth Orchestra. He has played with numerous local orchestras and theatre productions and, like Richard, is also an alumni of Royal Holloway College. He is inspired by rehabilitating "lapsed" musicians of which WPO has many!
Check out Robins bio here
Our Repertoire
The orchestral repertoire is quite diverse from full scale symphonies to overtures and lighter classics. The aim is to challenge our musicians in rehearsals, create engaging concert programs for our concerts and have fun.
Our News
We recently performed our second concert on the theme of "Dances, Scenes and Stories" at the lovely All Saints Church in the heart of Wokingham. We love it there, the acoustics add something magical. Check out the gallery here. You can also scroll through some of the history of how the orchestra was founded and previous events on our news page. We are launching a Newsletter with the the latest orchestra news and inside track on upcoming events. You can sign up here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still got questions? Everything from parking to concert tickets, its all on our FAQ page here. Or reach out to us on our contact us page if you have a question or need more detail