About us
About Frome Symphony Orchestra
Frome Symphony is an ambitious amateur orchestra in Somerset and our purpose is to promote high-quality live classical music in the community, and to provide education and development opportunities for local musicians of all ages.
Frome Symphony was founded in 2001 and operates as a charitable music society managed by volunteer trustees.
We undertake four or five projects each year, including:
Symphony and Concerto Performances
Educational courses
Collaborations
With choirs and other music societies to perform choral works.
Community concerts
Targeted at younger audiences.
Frome Symphony is a Registered Charity Number 1167989
Mark Gateshill
Our Conductor and Director of Music
Mark Gateshill has been Frome Symphony’s Director of Music since 2009. Having grown up in South London he went on to read music at the University of Exeter. After graduating, he studied conducting with Jonathan James from 2005 and from 2009 with Peter Stark (RCM). In 2014 he was given the opportunity to observe and assist Paavo Järvi and the Orchestre de Paris rehearsing Sibelius’ Symphonies 6 and 7 for performance and recording.
Mark has been conductor of the Brunel Sinfonia since 2011 and in 2014 he started working with Keynsham Orchestra. He has also had professional freelance experience with the Bath Philharmonia and the Bristol Classical Players. Mark has toured extensively around Europe conducting concerts in France, Belgium, Germany, Poland and Estonia.
Mark is currently Head of Strings at Bristol Cathedral Choir School where he teaches violin and viola, coaches a variety of chamber ensembles as well as conducting the String Orchestra.
