TfO is a limited liability company. It is a self-funding project run by volunteers with a passion for music, music education & film music. All profits raised by TfO are used to build a library of original music for film, TV & video games to help preserve this fabulous repertoire for future generations.
HISTORY
The film Orchestra (TfO) is a voluntary orchestra of professional, semiprofessional and keen amateur musicians which was set up in
Worcester in 2013 by Jane Whittle, following discussions in 2012 with Peter Sheeran, chief executive of the English Symphony Orchestra and Worcestershire-based film composer Hilgrove Kenrick.
Originally an amateur rehearsal orchestra, TfO has developed to a 70-piece symphonic orchestra which performs only original music for film, TV & video games and was the 1st such orchestra in the UK to specialise in this genre. The debut performance by The film Orchestra took place at Worcester’s Swan Theatre on Saturday, August 24th 2013 as part of the Worcester Festival.
Under the baton of TfO Principal Conductor, David Curtis https://www.dcurtis.org/ the orchestra has gone from strength to strength
since his appointment in January 2020, performing at theatres, churches, festivals & film locations across the region.
The addition of the TfO Choir under the direction of Amy Alden in 2023 has added a further dimension to this mighty force as both orchestra and choir seek to recreate in concert those special moments from the history of screen music live to its growing fanbase of concert-goers and enthusiasts.
The 2 TfO Community Orchestras are based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and Chippenham, Wiltshire. Both orchestras are conducted by Alan MacRae and enable more musicians to explore and enjoy playing this varied genre of music at concerts and festivals.
TfO 2025
The TfO family comprises:
The film Orchestra (Nunnery Wood High School, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2LT)
TfO Principal Conductor: David Curtis
TfO Orchestra Leader: Marie Roberts-Watkins
Orchestra Manager: Lee Clarke-Butler
Assistant Manager: Marcia Heidesch
Sound Engineer: Mark Skyrme, Skylight Sound
TfO Gloucestershire (Uckington Village Hall, Elmstone Hardwicke GL51 9SR)
Conductor: Alan MacRae
Orchestra Leader: Natasha Ludlow
Orchestra Manager: Rob Lacey
TfO Wiltshire (Lansdowne Hall, Derry Hill, Nr Chippenham, SN11 9QY)
Conductor: Alan MacRae
Orchestra Leader: Christian Key
Orchestra Manager: Jason Hoult
TfO Choir (The Talbot, Knightwick, Worcester WR6 5PH)
Director: Amy Alden
Accompanist: David Staiger
Choir Manager: Jane Whittle
TfO Officers:
Safeguarding: Carla Good
Health & Safety: Marie Roberts-Watkins
Website: Gavin Erry
Legal Advisor & Company Secretary of The Film Orchestra Ltd: Andrew Whittle
Founder & Managing Director of The Film Orchestra Ltd: Jane Whittle