The Kids Grow Up: Docklands Sinfonia to Perform for the Queen!

They only started out in 2009 and The Greenwich Gazette has been there from day one to see them progress year after year. Now, they crown their hard work with a performance for the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Congrats and here's the press release:

Docklands Sinfonia is honoured to have been invited to perform for Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace this Monday, 9th May 2011.

The symphony orchestra will perform alongside distinguished artists – including world famous soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa - and rising stars at a reception to celebrate young talent in the British Performing Arts.

Docklands Sinfonia, which has been rated as one of London’s top 5 non-professional symphony orchestras, will be involved in a specially commissioned theatre performance which has been inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

The performance, which has been produced by the English National Ballet in association with Dramatico Entertainment, will showcase distinguished artists and young people pursuing excellence in drama, dance and music.

It will present a light-hearted exploration of Shakespeare’s story and feature mentor artists such as Dame Kiri, Anne Reid MBE, Bryony Hannah and Amy Robbins, in addition to rising stars such as Tamsin Egerton, Daniel Kaluuya, Rumer and Alleviate.

Around 450 guests representing organisations and indivuals involved in the performing arts will attend the reception. They include representatives from organisations such as English National Ballet, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the National Youth Music Theatre.

Docklands Sinfonia’s involvement in the Buckingham Palace reception is the latest major achievement for the orchestra, which was only formed in January 2009 by musical director Spencer Down.

The orchestra has also just been invited to record at the BBC studios in Maida Vale later this month for BBC Radio 3’s ‘Light Fantastic’ celebration of British light orchestral music.

The young and dynamic symphony orchestra has already performed at the Royal Albert Hall with Grammy award-winning singer Imogen Heap, performed on BBC1 and held a number of sell-out concerts with major classical artists.

Docklands Sinfonia’s founder and musical director Spencer Down said: “It is a dream come true for Docklands Sinfonia to have been invited to perform for the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

“We are incredibly honoured to have been included in this fantastic celebration of young people in the British performing arts.”

DOCKLANDS SINFONIA

Docklands Sinfonia is a young and dynamic new symphony orchestra which aims to be a major cultural force in London’s dynamic Docklands. The orchestra is a unique blend of professional musicians, music students and talented amateurs – living and working in East London.

In June 2010, Docklands Sinfonia was rated as one of London’s top five non-professional orchestras by the respected industry magazine ‘Classical Music’. Since its formation in January 2009 by musical director Spencer Down, the orchestra has enjoyed incredible success. Just weeks after its first rehearsal, it was asked to perform on the BBC1 series ‘Clash’ and it has performed a number of sell-out concerts featuring major classical artists.

In November 2010, Docklands Sinfonia performed the world premiere of Grammy award winner Imogen Heap's 'Love The Earth' to a sell-out audience at the Royal Albert Hall.

World class soloists who have performed with the orchestra include cello virtuoso Leonard Elschenbroich, baroque soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, saxophonist Christian Forshaw, the Raven string quartet and LSO principal trumpet Philip Cobb.

The orchestra also has a strong track record of commissioning and showcasing new works by up and coming British composers including Andrew Keenan, Christian Forshaw, Mick Foster, Jeremy Holland-Smith, the Raven string quartet, Peter Meechan and Robert Davies.

Docklands Sinfonia is honoured to have Admiral Lord West as its patron. It rehearses on Wednesday nights from 7pm to 9:30pm at St Anne’s Church, Limehouse.