About us
Since its founding in 1995, Southern Sinfonia has gained a reputation as the leading chamber orchestra of the South of England, offering high-quality music to audiences across the region.
Bringing World-Class Music To Communities Of All Kinds
Under the leadership of chief conductors, Sir Roger Norrington, David Hill, Simon Chalk and the recently appointed John Warner, the orchestra performs with world-class soloists such as Peter Donohoe, Jennifer Pike, Nicholas Daniel, Craig Ogden, Emma Johnson and Catrin Finch.
They also regularly accompany a wide range of well-known choral societies in both sacred and secular contexts. For Baroque and Classical repertoire, the orchestra has a highly experienced period-instrument ensemble Southern Consort, which traces its roots back the orchestra’s origins working with Sir Roger Norrington, a pioneer in the field of historical performance.
We believe the place for an orchestra in the 21st century is firmly at the heart of the community, breaking out of the concert hall to offer events that make everyone feel at home. Whether you’ve come to hear one of your all-time favourites or are discovering classical music for the first time, we have something to offer. We are also proud of our track-record of education and outreach work, which includes events and workshops for children and students as well as recitals in care homes.
Music Director
John Warner
Southern Sinfonia Musicians and Trustees are thrilled to have John, who joined us in May, as our new Music Director and Artistic Advisor. He brings huge experience, energy and skillful creativity to the orchestra and we greatly look forward to working with him.
Highlights of 2024/25 include John’s debuts with the Athens State Orchestra, Luxembourg Philharmonic and Franz Schubert Filharmonia, a return to the Berliner Symphoniker at the Philharmonie in Berlin, a new production of Puccini’s Tosca with Oxford Opera and concerts and tours with his own ‘Orchestra for the Earth’.
Other recent engagements include the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, Slovak State Philharmonic and Armenian Symphony Orchestra, working with soloists including Thomas Hampson, James Ehnes and Wu Wei. In 2023 he was Artist in Residence at the Beijing Music Festival.
His pioneering work with Orchestra for the Earth, which he founded in 2017, takes him around Europe with a wide variety of concerts that bring together music and nature, collaborating with leading artists, scientists and charities to raise awareness about the climate and environmental crises.
2024/25 will be his fourth season as Music Director of Oxford Opera, with whom he has conducted several productions including most recently La Traviata and Die Zauberflöte. He has also conducted at Glyndebourne, Palau de les Arts (Valencia) and Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (Paris).
John honed his craft as assistant to many of the world’s leading conductors, Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Harding, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Karina Canellakis, Robin Ticciati and Edward Gardner, working with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, London Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Dresden Staatskapelle, Wiener Symphoniker, Les Siècles and others.
He studied music at the University of Oxford, graduating with First Class Honours in 2016 and an MSt with Distinction in 2017.
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