One of our members, Robert Pill, created a series of posts covering the history of the orchestra. These were originally on our Facebook page, but are also here so they are easy to find and browse in future.
The Orchestra Founder
Our founder, piano teacher and viola player, Mrs Winifred Caesar in her younger days.
- Born 25th January, 1885 in Southampton to Alfred, (builder 1861 – 1896), and Emma Elizabeth (1862 – 1947) Button. Named Winifred Emma
- Although she was Southampton born she spoke with received (BBC) pronunciation. Her voice was described as ‘big’
- 1911 census states she was single and a musical student living in Southampton
- In 1912 married Julius Caesar (1888-1943), a pharmaceutical student. The couple had three children – twins Julius, (1914-1998), and Alfred Augustus (1914-?), + Winifred Julia (1917-2003)
- First rehearsal pianist for the Above Bar Guild Musical and Dramatic Society, (from 1924), which later became the Southampton Operatic Society
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/…/11487905.Book_chronicles…/
Mrs Caesar at the piano (pic):
http://www.sotonopera.org/images/sotonopera/misc/mer24-3.jpg
From ABGMADS’s revival of ‘Merrie England’ Oct 1924 programme - Past members tell of her generous but firm character – she liked to do things properly
- She did a great deal to encourage local talent in her capacity as an associate of the Board of the Royal Schools of Music for some 20 years. During the exam season she put up the visiting examiner for the week and lent some of her rooms for the tests
Before 1926
Prior to 1926, strands of the orchestra – local professional and amateur musicians in separate groups who would play and perform together in various combinations / locations in and around Southampton – existed but these artistes were then not known as the ‘Northwood’. Newly qualified music teacher, Mrs Caesar, was one of them. Eventually they gelled together and, by 1922 if not earlier, a regular orchestra was rehearsing in the drawing room of a large house on The Avenue owned by cellist Mrs Clift. They called themselves ‘The Avenue Orchestra’. It is likely that Mrs Clift knew Mrs Caesar well as their houses may have faced opposite each other, one each side of the corner of Bannister Road and The Avenue.
Mrs Caesar was also rehearsal pianist for the newly formed, (1924), Above Bar Guild Musical and Dramatic Society – the precursor to Southampton Operatic Society. In March 1924 the orchestra, with Mrs Caesar, performed in ABGMADS’s first production of Edward German’s ‘Merrie England’ at the Isaac Watts Memorial Hall, (hall sadly subsequently lost in WW2).
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/…/11487905.Book_chronicles…/
By 1925, again if not earlier, Mrs Clift had moved away and the rehearsal venue had changed from Mrs Clift’s house to Mrs Caesar’s. In October 1925 Southampton Music Festival was inaugurated and the players prepared themselves to enter one of the first competitions to be held in March 1926. To do this the group needed a proper title so Mrs Caesar, with a little prompting, suggested the name of her house, ‘Northwood’, which was accepted as the new orchestra designate.
Throughout the following decades the orchestra grew in size. In fact, by the 1950s, it became so large that, to enter subsequent festivals, it had to divide itself into 2, one half competing with the other!
New Conductor in 1934
Following conductor Mr Jaggard’s untimely demise in 1934, Dr. D(onald) Cecil Williams FRCO took up the baton:
- Head of music at Hartley College which later became Southampton University
- Conductor of the choir and orchestra of Southampton Philharmonic Society
- From 1936 to the 1970s organist at St. Mary’s Church, Southampton. He was responsible for the installation of the new organ in the rebuilt church after WW2
- From 1937 to 1939 official organist at Southampton Guildhall
- From 1946 to 1970 Musical Director of Southampton Operatic Society – see Southampton Operatic Society Musical Director
(Note paragraph 3 under “Return to Titipu…”. Was he so busy that he could only attend one meeting?) - Wrote The Wessex Suite for the Northwood Orchestra and dedicated it to the same
- Described by one of our past members as a rather ‘scary’ conductor
After the Second World War
In 1946, after world hostilities ceased, Mrs Caesar restarted the orchestra and Mr Jenkins was invited to conduct. He remained the orchestra’s musical director for 14 years until he was forced to resign his musical activities in 1960 due to ill health.
- Head of Music at the Richard Taunton Grammar School for boys at their Highfield site. (Taunton’s School later merged with Hill College in Hill Lane – originally for girls – to form Taunton’s College, (1989))
- Mr Jenkins’ wife, Nesta who was a violinist and viola player, joined the Northwood shortly after he became conductor
New Orchestra Leader 1956
In 1956 / 7 Mr Trigg, on his retirement as leader, passed the leader baton to another of our first violin players, Gwenyth Wheeler. Gwen lead the orchestra until she died in 1963.
- Both she and her husband (cellist Dennis Wheeler) are first listed as members of the orchestra in our Feb 1947 programme
- An excellent leader, she was also described as ‘dominant’ = in charge
New Conductor 1960
In April 1960, after Mr Jenkins had to step down from Northwood conductorship on grounds of health issues, Mrs Caesar on behalf of the committee wrote to Miss Barbara Noyce, to offer her the post of conductor. Miss Noyce accepted the offer and held the position thereafter for 23 years until her death in June 1983.
- Born in 1915 to musical parents, Mr E and Mrs C Noyce, (viola and cello respectively), who were founder members of the Northwood
- In 1926 she took part in the first competitive Southampton Music Festival as a child (unconnected with the Northwood?) and, from 1981 until her passing, was its chairman
- Encouraged at an early age to play violin she joined the Northwood in 1927 as a second violinist occasionally stepping into the viola section when needed, e.g. for the orchestra’s performance of Elijah in 1935
- Became a member of Southampton’s Philharmonic Orchestra, (under D. Cecil Williams?) in her teens.
- Continued regularly in the Northwood until the 1938 political crisis and thereafter maintained a close connection with the orchestra, for example by playing for their concerts as a guest, until she returned fully in 1960 as conductor
- Had interests in the Incorporated Society of Musicians, The Hillside Singers (where she was deputy conductor to Jill Meager), and The Pipers Guild
- Links with Southampton Operatic Society where she was assistant musical director:
http://www.sotonopera.org/…/our-shows/performances/79… - Reported as giving a very clear, reliable ‘beat’
- Was a music teacher at Southampton Grammar School for Girls, Hill Lane (later called Hill College when boys were introduced – our present day Taunton’s College), from where she worked until reaching retiring age in 1975.
New Leader 1963
Following the death of leader Gwen Wheeler in 1963, Catherine (Kitty) Simmons, (1911-2000), was installed as Gwen’s successor.
- Leader from Nov 1963 to Mar 1977 when she had to give up due to health reasons
- First mentioned as a member in our February 1953 programme. However her daughter tells us she joined soon after the orchestra’s founding in 1926
- Rita Leighton (née Moss)’s first violin teacher
New Leader 1978
After Kitty had to leave, Rita Leighton took up the reins of leadership.
- Now retired, Rita is a well-known and respected contributor to the classical music scene in and around Southampton
- Joined the orchestra in 1962, began leading in 1978 and finished leading in 1985 when she was promoted to conductor. To date, Rita has been the only player who has progressed from grass roots level, (violinist member), through to leader and then to serving as our Musical Director
- Educated at St. Anne’s Convent Grammar School for Girls
- Trained as a teacher at La Sainte Union College of Education and returned later to St. Anne’s to teach music, where she found herself leading the school orchestra sharing first desk with pupil Bernadette, (who eventually became her bestie), in shows such as Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Patience’.
- Prepared St. Anne’s school orchestra for, and conducted their productions of ‘Kiss Me Kate’, ‘Oliver’, ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Guys & Dolls’
- Taught piano at school and at her home
- Percussionist with the 4 operatic societies in the area: Southampton, Waterside, Eastleigh and Winchester
- Has been leader of Southampton Concert Orchestra and now plays in the second violin section. She has fluctuated between leader of the first and second violins as and when she was needed. Currently also SCO Chair
- Jointly led, with Rita March, Southampton’s Conchord Singers after its formation in 1986 by members of the CND
- Her husband, Jim, played trombone in what is now called The Southampton Brass Ensemble (quintet), which has performed at some of our concerts
New Conductor 1983
On 13th June 1983, conductor Barbara Noyce died. The Northwood had given a lunchtime concert at the Southampton Fiesta on 7th June and were due to perform 3 weeks later, for the same festival on 28th June, so they had to swiftly find another musical director to fill the vacant post. Don Hawkins, a first violinist in the orchestra was invited, but, as he worked shifts, he declined. Therefore, it was proposed that Joan Male, a junior school teacher at Applemore School, Waterside, Southampton, who occasionally featured as a guest cellist at Northwood concerts, would be asked to take over the baton. She accepted. However, it soon became clear that the relationship with the orchestra wasn’t working, and Joan tendered her resignation shortly after joining.
- Joan conducted one of the training orchestras for Southampton Youth Orchestra
New Conductor and Leader 1985
Rita Leighton was elevated from leader to Musical Director in 1985. She continued in this role until her retirement in December 2013, making her our second-longest continuously serving member, with a total of 51 years of service. (Our longest continuous serving member was, treasurer / librarian and violinist / viola player, John Addis who had clocked up 61 years.)
At a committee meeting in (? summer) 1985 about reorganisation of the orchestra Donald Hawkins, who played in the first violin section and had recently retired from his job requiring shift work at Southampton docks, agreed to fill the leader position left by Rita.
- Donald was a genial chap with a good sense of humour and always helped out when the orchestra came across a problem.
New Leader 1993
Leader Don Hawkins died suddenly in the summer of 1993. Harold Mayes, another of our first violinists, took over the role on a temporary basis while we searched for an alternative leader. That prayer was answered in 1995 when Siân Buckley, who worked for the Hampshire Music Service, was introduced to the orchestra by violinist Jim Giles – the two had known each other at Above Bar Church. Siân’s discovery was a great relief to conductor Rita, and the vacant position was quickly filled.
- Siân began learning violin at the age of 7
- Played in many ensembles and orchestras throughout her school days
- Gained a music degree at Manchester University and the Royal College of Music
- In 1994 began work as a violin and primary school music teacher for the Hampshire Music Service
New Conductor 2014
Rita and Siân left big holes to fill when they moved on, but one of us discovered Craig Lawton. He had been an assistant conductor with the City of Southampton Orchestra and, whilst studying for a degree at Southampton University, an assistant conductor to the University Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta. He was available to direct us and plans were made for him to join in January 2014.
Craig came from an organist / pianist / percussionist background rather than being a string player. He also had experience conducting the Charity Symphony Orchestra, Winchester Chamber Orchestra and other full symphony orchestras.
After a while with us, however, he seemed to find conducting a small string orchestra, with several members then in their retirement coming together each week to enjoy playing and occasionally performing, very different to what he was used to, and so after just over 3 years with us, tendered his resignation.
Our temporary ‘caretaker’ leaders during Craig’s tenure were Barbara Mackay, Clare Blackwell and Alan Fitch.
New Conductor 2017
Malcolm Porter accepted an invitation from the orchestra to take the helm in Spring 2017.
A former 6th Form college teacher (Peter Symonds College, Winchester), Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra player, current soloist, and viola maker, he was like a breath of fresh air to our players. When introducing new works or pieces we hadn’t performed for many years, he would explain the background and the composer’s intentions so we had an idea of how the composition should sound.
When we were practising a particularly challenging piece for a concert, such as Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, he would use his teaching experience to give free private lessons to members on tackling the difficult parts.
Malcolm also knew a few violinists (some who had been his and his wife, Christa’s, pupils), he could ask to fill the vacant leader chair.
Malcolm Porter
https://www.malcolmporterviolas.co.uk/instruments/
LEADERS
Kath Roberts
https://showcase.soton.ac.uk/soloists-new/kath-roberts/
Ellabeth Little
https://encoremusicians.com/Ellabeth-Little
New Conductor 2021
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, like everyone else, we had to pause our meetings in person from March to August 2020. At the end of August 2020, the committee met via a Zoom link to discuss reuniting, including exploring the web to recruit a new conductor. We subsequently short-listed two possibilities and, as soon as we were allowed to reconvene, invited each applicant, by way of audition, to direct us on two separate evenings, one applicant per evening, at rehearsal. We settled on our present young conductor, Bruno Needham, and engaged him to start in October 2021.
- Having initially studied the violin, Bruno began his conducting studies at Durham University, where he achieved the highest mark as an undergraduate conductor. He went on to complete a Master’s degree in conducting under the tutelage of the now Sydney-based orchestral conductor, Monica Buckland. Bruno founded the Durham University Classical Ensemble. Currently based in London he works for English National Opera
- He can suggest many of his friends and contacts to solo for us when needed
- He has a special interest in the music of the Baroque era
https://brunoneedham.com/biography/
New Leader 2022
In the summer of 2022, Malcolm Porter wrote to the committee recommending Kinga Kowalczyk as our new leader. We accepted his recommendation, and Kinga joined with us at the beginning of autumn term 2022.
Starting violin at the age of 7 in Poland, Kinga moved to the UK and took lessons with Christa Porter in Southampton. She was 9 years old when she arrived in England and had only limited English; however, she is now a specialist violin tutor with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music at Southampton Arts Academy.
We’ve found her an invaluable asset to the orchestra. As well as playing and performing to a very high standard, she deputises for our conductor if his train arrives late and helps to resolve any questions or conundrums, for example, about performance practice or bowing, which may be raised from time to time.
https://www.southamptonartsacademy.com/about/kinga-kowalczyk
