A NEW educational residency is launching at Wellington School with an orchestral performance as the school’s Great Hall.

Taking place at 7pm on Friday, November 14, Wellington School will be holding a concert by Southern Sinfonia, the only professional orchestra in the South West, as it opens the 2025/26 season.

The concert also marks the launch of a new educational residency at Wellington School, through which Southern Sinfonia will offer side-by-side opportunities for young musicians, chamber music and conducting masterclasses, composition workshops, early years projects and more.

This concert also marks the first appearance of the orchestra’s new music director John Warner.

Hanna Yap, who is a winner of Taunton Young Musician of the Year, will be performing with Southern Sinfonia for the very first time.

The programme brings together a variety of classical works, including Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Mozart’s effervescent Figaro Overture, Haydn’s grand London Symphony (No. 104), and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23.

The residency aims to benefit not only pupils of Wellington School, but also students from state schools in local communities across Somerset and Devon.

John Warner said: “It’s a real privilege to begin my tenure with Southern Sinfonia in Somerset, working with an orchestra I greatly admire and in partnership with a school that is so committed to music.

“Our aim is to inspire children of all backgrounds to experience orchestral music up close, and to support the next generation of young musicians in the region.”

Gareth Dayus-Jones, director of music at Wellington School, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Southern Sinfonia in this educational residency.

“This partnership will give our pupils, and those from local schools, extraordinary opportunities to learn directly from professional musicians. It is a truly exciting development for music in the area.”