2019 marks the (roughly!) 140th birthday of the Waddell School of Music – founded by eminent Edinburgh violinist Mr. William Waddell, who himself studied in Leipzig under the legendary violinist Ferdinand David of Mendelssohn Violin Concerto fame. The Waddell Orchestra will celebrate the occasion with a very special Fundraising Gala Concert on Saturday 27th April in St. Vincent’s Chapel, to which all are warmly invited.
The concert will feature both the Waddell Junior Orchestra and the Waddell Senior Orchestra in an exciting programme of music from both the orchestral and solo string repertoire. There will be music by Mozart, Walton, Vivaldi and Bach amongst others. A special highlight of the evening will be a performance of the Telemann Viola Concerto with Jane Atkins (former Principal Viola of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra) as soloist.
The Waddell Orchestra was originally part of the Waddell School of Music – first housed at 137 Princes Street long before McDonalds moved in. Initially it ran a 50-strong choir known as The Waddell Choir but within a few years William Waddell had opened his Violin School and the first orchestra – known as “The Edinburgh Ladies Orchestra” – was formed.
William Waddell had two daughters, Mary (Maimie) Waddell and Ruth Waddell who went on to study violin and singing (Maimie) and piano and cello (Ruth) at the Royal College of Music, London, in 1908. On their return to Edinburgh, Maimie and Ruth assisted their father as teachers in the Waddell School, and in due course the sisters took over the running of the school themselves. Maimie died in 1967 and Ruth went into partnership with Winifred (Winnie) Gavine and Katherine (Kitty) Gregorson, running the school almost until her own death in 1980.
The running of the orchestra – including the Junior Orchestra originally founded in 1926 – was taken over by Kitty Gregorson, Mary Williamson and Edna Arthur followed by Paddy Murray and Alison Rushworth in 2001. The Waddell Orchestra was subsequently taken over by Heather Steel and Danny Miller in 2016.
The Orchestra rehearses weekly and presents three orchestral concerts each year, alongside chamber music recitals and participation in the Edinburgh Competition Festival. Many of Scotland’s leading musicians including Tamas Fejes, Assistant Leader of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Mark Bailey, Principal Cellist of the Orchestra of Scottish Ballet have worked with the orchestra – providing the young players the opportunity to learn from many of Scotland’s foremost professional players.
April’s Fundraising Gala Concert aims to raise vital funds to ensure the future of the Waddell Orchestra for another (roughly!) 140 years whilst honouring the incredible legacy of Mr. William Waddell, whose musical vision for Edinburgh continues to this day.
Tickets for the Fundraising Gala Concert are priced at £10.00 for Adults, £7.00 for Concessions and £5.00 for Children (under 16yo). These can be purchased in advanced by emailing waddellorchestra@gmail.com. There will also be a limited number of tickets available “on the door” on Saturday 27th April. The Concert will begin at 7.30pm with doors opening no earlier than 7.10pm.
Waddell Orchestra Fundraising Gala Concert
Saturday 27th April 2019 – 7.30pm
St. Vincent’s Chapel
Tickets £10 / £7 / £5
Booking: waddellorchestra@gmail.com
