Jersey Music

Jersey Post is delighted to celebrate, together with the Jersey Symphony Orchestra, their 25th anniversary by issuing a set of six stamps depicting a selection of orchestral musical instruments with a background of sheet music. All of the musics has been performed by the Jersey Symphony Orchestra and, on each stamp, the part pertaing to the particular instrument has been highlighted.

Violin and 'Hark! The Herald Angels sing' (Mendelssohn)

Trumpet and 'Pomp and Circumstance' (Elgar)

Harp and 'Pini di Roma' (Respighi)

Bassoon and 'Slavonic Dances-Opus 46 No.1' (Dvorak)

French Horn and 'Slavonic Dances-Opus 46 No.3' (Dvorak)

The Jersey Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1986 by two local musicians, John Grimshaw and John Asplet with the support of Keith Baker and Marjorie Grimshaw. The inaugural concert was held on 20th December 1986 under the baton of conductor Robin McEwan and the orchestra has since accomponied many great soloists including Nigel Kennedy, John Lill, Julian Lloyd Webber, Tasmin Little and many others Philip Ellis first conducted the JSO in 1992 and has been the orchestra's Principal Conductor since 1995. He has been Conductor with the Birmingham Royal Ballet since 1990 and has conducted many major orchestras worldwide. Since 2001 Philip has worked with soprano Lesly Garrett as Music Director, collaborating with her on many projects. Here, he sets out some of the features of the Jersey Symphony Orchestra which make it important to the island:

'Orchestras are about people nd it is true to say that each orchestra is in some way unique. But the Jersey Symphony Orchestra is really special- it is true community orchestra, devoted to the needs of local players, audiences and the promotion of orchestral music for everybody on the island. Funded significantly by the enlightened support of local business sponsorship, the orchestra is run as a charity to give local talented players of ochestral instruments the opportunity to make music together at the very highest level. Working with a proffesional conductor and leader, the JSO brings over visiting players for each concert to make up a full symphonic complemant and so fulfils the JSO's second objective- to give professional quality orchestral concerts for the large number of music lovers on the island. The JSO's third main objective is to stimulate interest in classical music in people of all ages, through education and outreach events linked with the orchestras three concerts per year.'

The Jersey Symphony Ochestra is supported by a wonderfully comminted group of individuals who give their time and energy to the massive job of maintaining and orchestra, education programme and complex concert series year on year. Togther with Philip Ellis, Jersey's own virtuoso cellist, Gerard Le Feuvre, and high-profile guests such as Lesley Garrett, the Jersey Symphony ORchestra continues to go froms strength to strength, deserving of the highest accolades.

Jersey Post is most greatful to the committee of the Jersey Symphony Orchestra for thier invaluable help with the initial preperation of this stamp issue.

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