Our history, people and stories
LSO celebrates 100 years of great music making
Leicester Symphony Orchestra's celebration of 100 years of great music making in 100 fascinating pictures, entitled LSO 100 @ 100 R.
Malcolm Sargent and the Rutland Musical Festival
Malcolm Sargent and the Rutland Musical Festival: A Picture with a Story. This superb photograph comes with a wonderful story. One hundred years ago Leicester Symphony Orchestra’s founder Dr Malcolm Sargent was at the centre of music making in Melton Mowbray,...
Leicester Orchestral Union
The Leicester Orchestral Union was Leicester’s first symphony orchestra giving well attended annual concerts for nearly five decades before the Leicester Symphony Orchestra started. It was also an important precursor to the LSO supplying over half its early players....
Benjamin Burrows
Benjamin Burrows (1891–1966) was a brilliant music teacher, organist, pianist, composer, and inventor. He came from a musical family and played for Leicester Symphony Orchestra (LSO) whenever an organist or supplementary pianist was needed. He was the brother of Grace...
Malcolm Sargent
This article is based on my recent research into the life of Malcolm Sargent which I have found fascinating, intriguing and compelling in equal measure. I have read a great deal and talked to many people who have memories of him and people who knew him including...
Arthur Thornley
Arthur Thornley (1905 - 1977): was a mainstay of the Leicester Symphony Orchestra for almost 50 years. His leadership and determination carried the LSO through the 1930s, the war and the post-war years. Such were the difficulties in these decades, it is fair to say...
George Robert Tebbs
George Robert TEBBS (1871 – 1923) was a modest man at the centre of music making in Leicester in the decade before the Leicester Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1922. He was the much loved founder of the De Montfort Orchestra, Leicester's first full symphony...
Michael Tippett
Michael Tippett (1905-1998), later Sir Michael, has no direct connection with Leicester Symphony Orchestra but I have included an entry on him here because his path crossed that of Malcolm Sargent significantly during his formative years. It was after seeing one of...
Karl Russell
George Karl Russell (c1888 - c1960), known as Karl, was the driving force behind the establishment of the Leicester Symphony Orchestra. This followed the astounding success of Malcolm Sargent's debut 'Windy Day' concert in February 1921. He was passionate about music,...
Grace Burrows
Grace Burrows (1893–1981) was an accomplished violinist at the forefront of performing and teaching in Leicester for 30 years. She played a central role in setting up and running Leicester Symphony Orchestra (LSO) which she led for 20 years. She actively promoted the...