In a 1964 issue of Musical Times, William Cole recognized Ernest Read’s impact on musical education by stating it was difficult to estimate his influence on education of professional and amateur musicians. Read’s impact on music education and youth orchestras became evident through the Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra (ERSO). A pioneer in developing music education, Read’s legacy and ERSO are still impacting today’s aspiring musicians.
Read launched ERSO, a program for children, in 1931 but did not hold his first children’s concerts until years later. Beginning in 1945, the Ernest Read Concerts for Children sold out yearly for over 50 years. When organizing these events, Read concentrated on the length, content, and style to engage audiences.
Based in Camden, England, an area in London, ERSO now hosts five concerts a year, including two focusing on children. These concerts allow students to participate in an orchestral performance outside of school, improve their skills as musicians, and prepare them for their musical exams. ERSO also offers young musicians a platform for launching their careers through the Talent Program, which offers opportunities for students to showcase their performance skills and obtain additional concert exposure.
For example, the “Soloist of the Year” competition is one part of the Talent Program. Winners of ERSO’s Soloist of the Year competition receive £150 and the chance to perform a concerto of their choice with ERSO in front of an audience.
This event is a pinnacle part of the year and illustrates ERSO’s ability to help students improve their musical skills. In 2023, June Lee, a violinist from South Korea, won the competition to perform with ERSO at the Waterloo Festival. She is attending the Royal College of Music and studying for her Artist Diploma. Lee has already completed her Master of Performance degree from the same school.
Whether training students for a career in concert music or helping young musicians establish themselves, ERSO has opened doors for many. Evelyn Rothwell, an oboist and ERSO alumnus, became one of the UK’s most famous oboists after winning in 1931. In December 1959, Guy Johnston, who performed with ERSO in 1959 and went on to become the BBC Young Musician of the Year, reached fame as a solo cellist and became a professor at the Royal Academy of Music. Other players who have benefited from playing with ERSO include Dennis Brain (horn player), Jack Brymer (clarinetist), and James Galway (flutist).
ERSO’s success happens, in part, because it works with experienced conductors. Its principal conductor, Christopher Stark, the co-founder and principal conductor of the Multi-Story Orchestra (a Royal Philharmonic Society Award winner), has performed with the English Touring Opera and Glyndebourne, an opera house. John Crawford, a professor at Trinity Laban and former member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, is another highly experienced conductor working with students at ERSO. For more information on the Talent Program or the school, visit erso.london/about.
Dorrit Matson 