The Orchestra's HistoryThe Teesside Symphony
Orchestra was formed in 1960 by the merger of the Mills Francis
string Orchestra and the Teesside Orchestral Society. Its aim was
to establish a thriving amateur orchestra for Teesside in keeping
with the large population and cultural activity of the area. |
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| The driving
force for the development of the orchestra was Edwin Raymond its first
and only musical director until his death in May 1999.
Before his retirement in 1984, Edwin was the Head of Music Service in Tees Valley. His career was devoted to the development of music in the Tees Valley. He strongly believed in the development of music with schools and was responsible for the provision of free music lessons to school children and the provision of free loan instruments for them to learn on while they were in education. Edwin was also the choral
director of the Teesside International Eisteddfod Choir,
later
to become the Cleveland Philharmonic Choir. |
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| Over the years the Orchestra has played with some well known names in the world of classical music such as, Ruth Alford (cello), Matthew Truscott (violin), and most recently Matthew Rose of the Covent Garden Opera . | |
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