Recent Events and Concerts

Godalming Performing Arts Festival - 1 March, 2024

XY Strings was awarded a Distinction (88) in the Open - Orchestras category at Godalming Performing Arts Festival, 2024 with Howard Thompson's arrangement of the Bach Prelude 9 from Well Tempered Clavier Book 2 (transposed to F major!) and his own work, Sunny Day in G major.  Adjudicator Peter Nichols was particularly impressed with the performance of the coda to Sunny Day.  A perfect antidote to the showers earlier in the day!  

After the performance, the William Handley Claret Jug was presented with the section leaders receiving the trophy on behalf of the orchestra.  Head over to the Gallery section to see photos after the event.

Carol Evening - 12 December, 2023

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Carol Evening.  The music included a wide range of congregational carols, as well as seasonal compositions and arrangements by Howard Thompson.  The evening finished with some festive refreshments. 

Our retiring collection raised £188 for Cherry Trees and Guildford Street Angels.  

Woking Music Festival - 15 November, 2023

Another successful year at Woking Music Festival saw large turn out for XY at Woking Music Festival to play Howard Thompson's arrangement of the Bach Trio Sonata BWV 525, I.  Allegro, and Groovy Strings from Suite and Light by Tony Osborne.  Places, position, and...posture!

Virtual XY Strings- March to July 2020

We held ‘virtual rehearsals’ every week for XY Strings and the XY ‘Cellos while we were unable to rehearse at the church.  We are very grateful to Howard Thompson who arranged lots of exciting new pieces for us to enjoy playing.   These included arrangements of pieces by Bach, Chopin, Bartok and Flanders and Swann.   Many of Howard's arrangements have been on the theme of rain and rainbows, such as ‘Sing a Rainbow’, ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head’ and 'Singing in the Rain'. 

A particular highlight of our online music-making was holding a ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ at one of our virtual rehearsals in May.  We brought along some of our cuddly toys so that they could meet some new friends during lockdown and feel a bit less isolated.  We played Howard Thompson’s arrangement of ‘Paddington Bear’ by Herbert Chappell, and were delighted that some Paddingtons were able to join us at our virtual picnic.  Thank you to Fiona Yeomans for taking this lovely photo of the bears joining in with the meeting:

Carol Evening- 10th December 2019

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Carol Evening.  The music included a wide range of congregational carols, as well as seasonal compositions and arrangements by Howard Thompson.  The evening finished with some festive refreshments. 

Our retiring collection raised £150 for Surrey Young Carers (https://www.surrey-youngcarers.org.uk/) and The Matrix Trust (www.matrixtrust.com).  

We were delighted that Mrs Christine Loosemore, the Chairman of the Woking Music Festival, came to the Carol Evening to present the XY 'Cellos with the Kingdon Trophy.  The XY 'Cellos had won the trophy at the festival in November.  

Christmas Tree Festival - December 2019

XY Strings decorated a tree as part of the Christmas Tree Festival at the Guildford United Reformed Church. Well done to everyone in the orchestra who helped with the decorations!

Woking Music Festival - November 2019

XY did really well at the Woking Music Festival!  XY Strings and XY 'Cellos were both awarded Distinction, and the adjudicator seems to have very much enjoyed our performances.  Here is a photo of us just before going on to play:

XY Carol Evening - December 2018

We held our Carol Evening on Tuesday 11th December 2018.  As well as having a lot of fun playing and singing carols and other Christmas music and sharing some very festive refrehments, we also made a collection in aid of Surrey Young Carers (http://www.surrey-youngcarers.org.uk/). We're now looking forward to our Godalming Music Festival class on Thursday, 21st March at 9.15pm at Godalming Borough Hall, The Burys, Godalming GU7 1HY.  Please do come and support us!