Spires Music

is a brand-new organisation that exists to give Coventry greater access to the riches of the classical repertoire from professional musicians in the heart of Coventry.

Coventry has a wealth of musically talented individuals nurtured through our youth music and amateur orchestras but who currently have to seek opportunities to become career musicians in other cities such as London and Manchester. Spires Music provides opportunities for Coventry musicians to perform at professional level in their home town and for audiences to enjoy excellence in the finest of Coventry's historic venues.

Since leaving his role at Warwick University as Director of Music in 2003, Colin Touchin has established a successful career as an international conductor and composer. But he has also established in his adopted home of Coventry an organisation to share with the community a high quality of classical music.

The Spires Philharmonic Orchestra comprises a core of professional musicians together with talented amateurs. The professional section leaders coach, mentor and inspire their amateur colleagues, ensuring a very high standard of performance. And the SPO provides Coventry with a pool of  professional players for events throughout the City. We believe that this "pro-am" model is unique in the country. As one amateur player remarked: "It's like having a free violin lesson at every rehearsal".

The Spires Philharmonic Chorus has also been created, to join with the SPO to perform large choral works. The Spires Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus made their debuts at the Coventry Godiva Festival in July 2005 with a stirring performance of the Finale of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony to an audience of over 2000 people.

Spires Music is a Not-for-profit limited company with its roots in the community. We would like to thank Coventry City Council, CVOne, The Arts Council of England and The Heart of England Community Foundation for their support, enthusiasm and encouragement.

The picture shows Spires Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus performing Mozart's Requiem and Handel's Messiah to a packed Holy Trinity Church in Coventry on Holy Saturday 2006.

For any information on Spires please use our information email.

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