Orpheus Sinfonia commissions concertos from three major female composers, Cheryl Frances Hoad, Roxanna Panufnik and Sally Beamish

Orpheus Sinfonia

The Orpheus Sinfonia, a young professional orchestra founded in 2009, created its Foundation Programme in 2023. The Foundation Programme offers professional development to early-career classical musicians, providing paid performance platforms, high-level mentorship, and real-time industry experience to forge viable careers.

Orpheus Sinfonia has now commissioned three major female composers, Cheryl Frances Hoad, Roxanna Panufnik and Sally Beamish, for three concertos to be premiered over the next three year. Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation Programme musicians will be premiering Cheryl Frances Hoad’s Three Mathematical Diversions, with saxophonist Jonathan Radford conducted by Thomas Carroll at St George’s Church, Hanover Square, London, on June 26, 2025 as part of a programme that also includes Keepsakes/Namesakes, which is the culmination of Miles Walter’s year as the Foundation Programme’s selected composer.

The a world premiere from Roxanna Panufnik takes place on June 25, 2026, featuring Jonathan Swensen, cello, a distinguished winner of the Windsor Festival International String Competition, and a third world premiere by Sally Beamish in 2027 will then feature the winner of the next Windsor Festival International String Competition.

Full details from the Orpheus Foundation’s website.