Cockermouth Live! Grand Festival Concert

6th July 2025 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Christ Church

Cockermouth Community Orchestra prepares for a Grand, Grand Festival Concert

Cockermouth’s very own fifty-piece orchestra to perform at the town’s Cockermouth Live! festival.

The concert will take place on Sunday 6th July at Christ Church, Cockermouth at 7pm.

The orchestra promises an evening of light orchestral music including works by Leroy Anderson, Malcolm Arnold, Luigini and Saint-Saens. This year the players will be joined by some very rare solo instruments.

Made up of musicians of all ages from across the town and outlying villages, Cockermouth Community Orchestra meets monthly at the United Reformed Church.

Dr Philip Wood, conductor and musical director, commented:

‘We work up to the Cockermouth Live! concert every year. It’s a big day for us and the result of a great deal of hard work and rehearsal. It’s always an exciting and memorable occasion’.

Andrew Jones, who has played french horn in the orchestra since 2011 added:

‘Playing in the Community Orchestra is a joyful experience! We are brought together by geographical proximity and our love of music. The orchestra is inclusive, and there is always a sense of achievement in playing together. In the horn section we switch the parts around so that everyone gets the broadest experience with which they feel comfortable. Philip soon gets to know who is playing what! Above all Philip leads us all with humour and gentle encouragement. There is a lot of playing in every rehearsal and the music is carefully chosen by Graham (our librarian) to suit the members. And the lunch provided on the whole-day rehearsals is to die for’.

Tickets for the concert, which cost £12, are available from the Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth from both box office and online booking, also from Billy Bowman’s Music Shop on Lowther Went, Cockermouth, accompanied children are free.

Tom Speight, chair of the Cockermouth Live! festival organising group said:

‘Rare solo instruments sounds intriguing. You never quite know what to expect with the Cockermouth Community Orchestra. But their one and only annual concert always makes a fabulous finale to the festival. It’s a very popular event and always sells out, so get your ticket in advance’.