Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra (BSO)

Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra is a group of 80-90 local players, including talented young musicians. Its programme is diverse and includes major symphonies and concertos. It rehearses in Bedford every Wednesday evening during term time. Our conductor is Bjorn Bantock.

Experienced musicians interested in joining the orchestra should contact [email protected] for more information. New players should be aged 16 and above and play to grade 8+ standard. Our annual subscription for 2025-26 is £165 (£55 for students in full-time education).

Current rehearsal schedules and information for players can be found in the Members’ area.

To browse all of our upcoming concerts and book tickets, including season tickets and special group discounts, visit our TicketSource page.


BSO Conductor - Bjorn Bantock

Bjorn has over 30 years professional conducting experience and has enjoyed an extensive performance schedule conducting numerous ensembles and orchestras internationally. He has performed in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, China, South Africa, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Russia, Malta, Ireland, Norway and the UK. Bjorn is currently the principal conductor of the Irish Memory Orchestra which has toured throughout Europe, Ireland and South Korea. He has made numerous television and festival appearances to great critical acclaim and is the principal conductor for the Peterborough Philharmonic Orchestra.

BSO Leader - Caroline Waters

Caroline was born in Jersey and began violin lessons at the age of seven. With the help of a musical benefactor, Caroline continued her studies from the age of 14 at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. Continuing at the Royal Northern College of Music, she studied with Richard Deakin, and throughout her time in Manchester she enjoyed opportunities to lead orchestras and perform chamber music.

Caroline has lived in Bedfordshire since 1989, when she began playing with the Bedford orchestras under the baton of Michael Rose. She divides her time between performance work and teaching violin and viola. Caroline is happiest playing music with others and spent 27 years playing string quartets with the Kaznowski String Quartet. She performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician, now leading The Element String Quartet, Trio and Duo.

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