How We Work

We give two concerts a year - in London, in November, and at another European venue in June – always in aid of a childrens’ charity. We always have a professional conductor and soloist, and all the costs of putting on the concert and the social events are covered by players’ subscriptions and corporate sponsorship. This allows all the money from ticket and programme sales to be donated to a childrens’ charity.

For the last three years, the London concert has been for the ‘Save the Children’ fund – and, last year, we were able to donate over £5000. For the summer concert, we ask the local organisers to choose a local children’s medical charity.

Players are contacted in July and January with details of the next concert, and then registration is opened on the EDO website (www.europeandoctorsorchestra.com). All registrations are forwarded to the section organisers, who will subsequently inform the registrants if they have been offered places in the various sections.

After three weeks, the orchestra is opened to new players - where there are vacancies - and the players are offered places by the section organisers.

If you are offered a place, you should confirm promptly by email and by paying your registration fee (preferably by the "PayPal" system as mentioned on the website).

The programme will be posted on the web under "Next Concert".

The practice parts will be available electronically 3 months before the performance in Acrobat PDF format for registrants to print out and start practising. There is a limited time for rehearsal before the concert and so players are expected to be thoroughly familiar with their parts before we meet.

The format of a concert weekend is as follows

A typical concert weekend comprises two days of intensive rehearsals, both orchestral and sectional, from 0900 - 1700, usually at a venue other than that of the concert; there are mid-morning and mid-afternoon tea breaks, and an hour’s lunch break.

There is a final rehearsal on the Sunday morning, this time at the concert venue.
The London winter concert is in the afternoon.

The summer concert (on the European mainland) is always held in the evening.

A Social Programme is organised for the Friday and Saturday evenings, together with a reception after the concert.