Orchestra of St John's | Taking classical music out into the community

OXINABOX REVIEW: ‘A thoroughly deserved standing ovation’ Why Ravel’s Bolero bought the OSJ audience to their feet at Dorchester Abbey

You can’t get much more of a famous classic than Ravel’s Bolero. It must surely be up there with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – in terms of those four instantly recognisable and iconic notes.

However, the Orchestra of St John’s made us wait for the main event, not that we minded as it was the Spanish themed choice of performances that provided the warmth and cheer on Saturday evening.  READ MORE

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08 April 2025
Private: My Music at Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford,
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£15.00 – £40.00 379 tickets left Buy Now
18 April 2025
Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire
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£15.00 – £25.00 166 tickets left Buy Now
19 April 2025
SJE Arts, Iffley Road
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£15.00 – £25.00 132 tickets left Buy Now
17 May 2025
Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire
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£15.00 – £25.00 250 tickets left Buy Now
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An orchestra with a noble cause
A professional orchestra bringing the best music to all
Concerts

A richly varied programme of concerts, both orchestral and choral, at SJE Arts in Oxford, and at Dorchester Abbey.

Mucisians and Participants during the Session:" Closing Performance" at the Annual Meeting 2017 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 20, 2017.

Copyright by World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell
Connections

Our Connections programme brings together the wide range of social and community engagement work that we do. For over fifty years, this has been a key part of the OSJ’s ethos and work.

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Music for Autism

A cornerstone of Connections, our Music for Autism programme has been running continuously for over 20 years. OSJ’s musicians spend around 70 days a year in special schools, both locally and nationally, playing to and engaging with children and young people with autism.

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Young Artists Scheme

 Fostering talented young singers and instrumentalists in the early stages of their professional careers and inviting them to perform alongside OSJ’s established musicians.

Our Latest News

‘A thoroughly deserved standing ovation’ Why Ravel’s Bolero bought the OSJ audience to their feet at Dorchester Abbey’

You can’t get much more of a famous classic than Ravel’s Bolero. It must surely be up there with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – in terms of those four instantly recognisable and iconic notes. However, the Orchestra of St John’s made us wait for…

“This experience has been the best luxury of my life” Michael Palin explores his incredible journey with OSJ at The Sheldonian

As droll and down-to-earth as ever, Sir Michael Palin arrived on stage at The Sheldonian to riotous applause, the sold out audience keen to hear of his exploits and adventures, life in comedy, global travels and time as a student in Oxford. Interviewed…

‘A tale of two Hannahs! How OSJ’s ‘divine’ Great Mass in C Minor by Mozart reduced the audience to tears. Book its festive concerts now’

On a wild, wet and windy night, we ran into the sanctuary of the lovely church of St John the Evangelist on the Iffley Road, to be treated to an evening of Bruckner and Mozart, performed by the Orchestra of St John’s and the OSJ…

From our YouTube channel


QI: John Lubbock on ‘The Home Key’


J0hn Lubbock talks abut his life and music 2024


Jan Schmolck plays Bach in Dorchester Abbey

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Why an orchestra must work in the community

John Lubbock recorded at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

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