Three violinists, Pamela Bell, Robert Tulloh and Aimée Cottam, had the idea to form a new orchestra for Bristol, under the baton of award-winning composer and conductor William Goodchild. So in 2016, the Bristol Symphony Orchestra (BriSO) burst onto the classical music scene as an exciting new orchestra, made up of dynamic and talented players from across the region, and quickly established itself as a leading ensemble in the Southwest.
Now led by Principal Conductor, Robert Weaver and supported by Associate Conductor Dave Ransom, BriSO strives to reach a wide audience with exciting and innovative programmes that draw on the orchestra’s versatility and exceptional musicality. BriSO champions symphonic music as a living art form and aims to create performances that delight the spirit, engage the mind and spark the curiosity of our audiences. Artistry, community and joy are at the heart of who BriSO are and what they do. Pamela remains a director of the orchestra, and leading duties are shared with Aimée Cottam and Vickie Medland.
Recent highlights include performances with world renown soloists such as violinist Jennifer Pike and soprano Rebecca Evans, cross-genre collaborations with internationally acclaimed jazz artists such as Andy Sheppard and Get the Blessing, as well as world premieres of compositions by living composers.
The orchestra is managed by Alasdair Price and has a dedicated committee made up of players from the orchestra who give up their free time to ensure the smooth running of the orchestra, in addition to three talented leaders, Andrew Weaver, Aimée Cottam and Vickie Medland.
