A CONCERT taking place later this month will be a bittersweet affair. The music will be wonderful, but it will also be the final performance from the group’s conductor.
The Reading Symphony Orchestra is bidding farewell to their musical director of 26 years, Stefan Hofkes after he moved to sunny Spain.
It will be a happy occasion too: among those taking part with be 17-year-old violinist Tara Spencer who won this year’s Young Musician contest.
She will perform her chosen concerto with the orchestra, Dvorak’s Violin Concerto.
Tara currently leads the Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestra and has played with the National Youth Orchestra since 2021.
She wowed the judges at the annual competition back in March and has chosen to perform the virtuosic Romantic masterpiece with characteristic Czech melodies and dances in abundance for her debut.
The opening will reflect Mr Hofkes recent move to Spain with Bizet’s Overture and Danse Bohème from the opera Carmen.
His farewell piece will be the finale: Brahms’ 2nd Symphony.
He said: “I look forward to our last concert, sad as it is. To celebrate our 26 years with great music and an amazing young musical star of the future will be so wonderful.”
The concert takes place from 4pm on Saturday, November 11, at the University of Reading’s Great Hall on London Road.
Tickets cost £15, £5 for students and under 18s.
For more details, or to book, log on to: www.rso.org.uk/next-concert
