Player information
ADMS welcomes new players, but in recent years we’ve grown in numbers so far that we are struggling to fit into our concert venues. The orchestra has around 40 regular members with strong string and wind sections. We bring in additional players where needed for concerts. We have an excellent leader, local musician Kate Bailey. Orchestral players are auditioned by a trial period in the orchestra. Rehearsals are on Monday evenings between September and June, except half terms and the Monday following a concert.
Admission to the orchestra depends on there being a vacancy for the instrument in question and on the player’s experience. At present we have a full woodwind and horn section, though deputies are always welcome to apply. In the brass we have vacancies for trombones and tuba, and there may be a vacancy for a trumpet player from November 2023 – though please be aware that repertoire sometimes doesn’t include all these instruments. The repertoire usually demands a standard of Grade 7 to 8 minimum.
Each year, the society performs two concerts with mixed choral and orchestral works, a purely orchestral concert, a choral concert (sometimes with a smaller orchestra) and a light-hearted family-oriented charity Christmas concert.
November 2025: We currently have vacancies for experienced viola, trumpet and trombone players.
If you are interested in joining the orchestra please email brief details of your standard, training and orchestral experience:
>> String players – Alison Gater on 01865 247067 or
>> Wind, brass or percussion players – Jackie Bushell on 01235 818848 or .
For details about subscriptions see membership information section below.
Rehearsal venue
The Manor Preparatory School, Faringdon Road, Abingdon OX13 6LN
Rehearsal schedule – Mondays 19.30 to 21.30
The orchestra usually meets every Monday from the beginning of September to the June concert, with the exception of the Christmas / new year break, Monday bank holidays, half term weeks, and the Monday immediately following a concert in which the orchestra has played. There may also be some weeks, e.g. after the November concert, when, if the orchestra is not involved in the December concert, there may be no rehearsals.
| Date | Venue | Specifics |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 5 Jan 2026 | Manor Prep | First rehearsal of 2026 – Saint Saens only |
| Mon 12 Jan | Manor Prep | Lohengrin, Saint-Saens i first part. Praga first third |
| Mon 19 Jan | Manor Prep | Saint-Seans, Lohengrin, Praga second half |
| Mon 26 Jan | Manor Prep | Strings sectional with Alex. Wind sectional on Praga with Geoff at Trinity Church |
| Sat 31 Jan | Manor Prep | 14.00-17.00 Choral Workshop with James Burton |
| Mon 2 Feb | Manor Prep | Suk complete, break, Saint-Saens I up to Poco Adagio before Q |
| Mon 9 Feb | Manor Prep | Suk, identified sections needing attention. S.S II, break, S.S II, Wagner for strings |
| Mon 16 Feb | Manor Prep | NO REHEARSAL – HALF TERM |
| Mon 23 Feb | Manor Prep | Saint-Saens Symphony (with piano) |
| Mon 2 Mar | Manor Prep | Suk (with harp & brass) Wagner (with brass) |
| Sat 7 Mar | St Helens Church | 14.30 Saint Saens, break, 1540 Suk, Wagner, 17.00 end. 19.30 concert |
| Mon 9 Mar | – | NO REHEARSAL – as usual after a concert |
| Mon 16 Mar | Manor Prep | |
| Mon 23 Mar | TRINITY CHURCH | |
| Mon 30 Mar | Manor Prep | |
| Mon 6 Apr | – | NO REHEARSAL – Easter Monday |
Xmas concert dress (men and women): black bottom and single colour top (not black or white)
Other concert dress: Ladies: All black. Gentlemen: DJs, white shirt and black bow tie.
>> Proposed future programmes (home + concerts page)
Membership information
Subscriptions 2025-26
Subscriptions can be paid annually or termly. Prospective new members are welcome to attend for a trial period of up to one month before subscriptions are due. The subscription rate for the whole year is £185 or £170 if paid in full before the November concert. For those who prefer to pay in instalments the rates are as follows:
| Term | Term start date | Term end date | Subscription |
| Autumn | First rehearsal in September | Christmas concert | £65 |
| Spring | First rehearsal in January | March concert | £60 |
| Summer | First rehearsal after March concert | June concert | £60 |
Friends subscription is £85 and includes a season ticket for all concerts.
Concessions:
- New members (i.e. those who have never in the past been ADMS members) receive a £20 reduction on their first payment
- Student rate is £5 per term
- Under 30s receive a 50% discount
- In cases of financial hardship, members are invited to discuss their situation in confidence with the treasurer.
Constitution
Members are entitled to take part in all of the Society’s activities and are expected to abide by the Society’s Constitution.
>> Constitution (September 2025)
New members
Prospective new members are asked to complete the combined application / Gift aid form and return to orchestral membership secretary Nicola Gladwell (oboe).
>> Membership application and Gift Aid form (September 2022)
Method of payment
The preferred method of payment is by direct credit transfer to the ADMS bank account. Please ask Nicola Gladwell for the account number and sort code. Please email Treasurer Tim Budd () to advise him of this transaction. He will send an acknowledgement to verify the payment.
Alternatively payment may be made by cheque payable to “Abingdon & District Musical Society” and handed to to Nicola Gladwell during an evening rehearsal, or by post to Tim Budd, 12 Kingfisher Close, Abingdon OX14 5NP.
Data protection
New members please note that the Society needs to keep records and for this reason it maintains computer spreadsheets of members’ details, and a Google Groups emailing list. The Society regards this information as confidential and for its own administration purposes only. If your application for membership is accepted, your details will be added to these spreadsheets but not used or distributed externally. If this is not acceptable to you, please discuss with an officer of the Society.