Join The Bentley Repertoire Orchestra (BRO) and Bentley Harmonia Choir (BHC)

Bentley Repertoire Orchestra (BRO)

The Bentley Repertoire Orchestra (BRO) is a brand new symphony orchestra modelled on the rehearsal orchestras found in Europe and the USA. The BRO is open to all amateur and professional orchestral players, irrespective of age who can demonstrate a minimum standard of grade 7 or equivalent on their instrument. Although operating in Bentley Music Academy, BRO is a non-profit organisation and members are not charged a membership fee to join or remain members.

The aims of the BRO are as follows:

1) To provide all orchestral players of the appropriate standard, the opportunity to rehearse and perform symphonic orchestral repertoire on a regular basis.

2) To give both experienced and less experienced conductors the opportunity to select, interpret, rehearse and perform symphonic repertoire with a high quality orchestra and expose the players to different conducting styles and methods.

3) To give members the opportunity to play with both local virtuosi and internationally renowned soloists.

The BRO will give approximately six concerts per year. Most concerts will feature a solo concerto or choral work, an overture and a symphony or tone poem as well as a guest conductor for at least one of the works. Programmes will be rehearsed from scratch over not more than eight weeks and performed for one or two nights in Bentley Auditorium and other venues should they be requested to do so.

The BRO holds regular auditions and players are invited to apply on an ongoing basis. The target size of the orchestra is 80 players. All teachers of classical musical instruments at Bentley Music Academy are members of the BRO and help to mentor the younger players.

The BRO rehearses every Sunday from 4.30 to 7pm at BMA and on Wednesdays from 8 to 10pm when necessary. To apply to join or audition for the BRO please email fadley@bma.com.my

Bentley Harmonia Choir (BHC)

The Harmonia Choir was originally formed by Musical Director Paul Baker in October 2009 for a performance of Handel’s Messiah at KLPac in December 2009. Such was the success of the production that the choir decided to continue as a group and was renamed “Harmonia” (the name was thought up by our Choral Master, Stephen Tok, a founder member who also went on to become Head of Vocal Studies at BMA). Harmonia comprises singers of all ages, races and professions from lawyers and doctors to school teachers and piano teachers, all with a common passion for singing. A varied programme of music is planned over the next 12 months with their next appearance being at our end of year concert on December 12th singing Christmas favourites. At least one major choral work with orchestra will be featured each year with Sir Michael Tippet’s “A Child of Our Time” planned for September 2011. Other sacred and secular works comprise early music, Chinese folk songs and pop standards. However the bulk of the repertoire will remain sacred works with Stainer’s “Crucifixion” being in the pipeline for Easter 2011.

Harmonia rehearses every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm at BMA. Additional rehearsals are added where necessary depending on the programme being rehearsed.

Harmonia holds regular auditions so if you are a competent soprano, alto tenor or bass, can read or at least follow music well, have good intonation, vocal dexterity and good English diction, please email melissa@bma.com.my to apply for an audition.