Rehearsals and dates

We rehearse for nine weeks before each concert, usually on Mondays from 7pm to 9.30pm at Novotel London West, Hammersmith. If the Monday is a bank holiday, we rehearse on Tuesday. We also rehearse at the concert venue on the afternoon of the concert.

Subscribe by clicking a link below, and your calendar app will always be up to date with all FSO rehearsals and concerts.

Date and time Event
Monday 17 August 2026, 7pmRepertoire session and AGM, Novotel
Monday 14 September 2026, 7pm First rehearsal for November concert, Novotel
Saturday 14 November 2026, 2.30pm Rehearsal, Smith Square Hall (setup 2pm)
Saturday 14 November 2026, 7.30pm Concert, Smith Square Hall
Monday 18 January 2027, 7pm First rehearsal for March concert
Saturday 20 March 2027, 2.30pm Rehearsal, venue TBC (setup 2pm)
Saturday 20 March 2027, 7.30pm Concert, venue TBC
Monday 26 April 2027, 7pm First rehearsal for June concert
Saturday 26 June 2027, 2.30pm Rehearsal, venue TBC (setup 2pm)
Saturday 26 June 2027, 7.30pm Concert, venue TBC

We can only be successful if everyone makes a real commitment to rehearsals and concerts, so we need you to:

  1. Tell us your availability for concerts as soon as you can after we announce the dates. We normally expect you to play all 3 main concerts each year.
  2. Attend at least 6 Monday rehearsals plus the mandatory concert day rehearsal, unless you have agreed otherwise with the conductor (normally only if you have little to do in a particular work)
  3. If you need to miss a rehearsal or a concert, tell your section manager as soon as you can (but we expect you not to drop out of a concert within 3 months without a very good reason).

New members of the orchestra join us on a trial basis, with membership confirmed on completion of successful first term.

Walking route to Novotel from the Tube

  • Chablis Suite (our usual rehearsal room) is on the ground floor
  • Bourg, Alsace, Muscadet: mezzanine floor
  • Bourgogne: first floor
  • Bordeaux: second floor

Membership

  • £15 per month by standing order (preferred), or
  • £65 per term paid at the beginning of each term, or
  • £180 per year – if paid during the autumn term
  • Concessions: £7.50 a month by standing order or £35 a term

If you’ve moved house, or are new to the orchestra, please complete this form:

Registration and Gift Aid form

We have a social WhatsApp group – please ask a member of the committee for details.

We also have a members’ Facebook group, but it’s not used much these days.

Please read our Members’ Handbook which includes our code of conduct and other information about how we run the orchestra.

Our other policies can be found here:
Policies and governance

Members of the orchestra are welcome to attend committee meetings. If you would like to come to a meeting please email our secretary Nick at info@fso.org.uk