Founded in 1973, the Mid-Somerset Orchestra has long been a cornerstone for talented amateur musicians across the region, offering them an inspiring platform to showcase their artistry. Each season, the orchestra brings four captivating concerts to life, delighting audiences with a diverse repertoire and the thrill of live performance. Most performances are held at the renowned Strode Theatre in Street, an intimate venue nestled in the heart of Somerset, where music lovers gather to enjoy this rich tradition of local orchestral excellence.
Principal Conductor
Hitoshi Suzuki has served as the Principal Conductor of the Mid-Somerset Orchestra since 2018. He won the Audience Prize at the Opéra de Baugé International Conducting Competition in July 2018 and secured 2nd prize at the London Classical Soloists Conducting Competition in April 2016. He holds a Master of Arts in Music (Orchestra Conducting) with distinction from the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, supported by scholarships from both the Flemish Government and the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
Hitoshi has trained under prominent conductors, including John Farrer (Director, London Conducting Workshop) and Neil Thomson (former Head of Conducting, Royal College of Music) in London, Mark Heron (Tutor in Conducting, RNCM) in Manchester, and Philippe Gérard (Professor of Conducting, Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles) in Brussels. He began his musical studies in violin, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Royal Northern College of Music in the UK and the Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen in Belgium.
Leader
Marianne Sutton became the professional leader and first violinist of the Mid-Somerset Orchestra in September 2024. She is a graduate of the prestigious Wells Cathedral School and the University of Oxford.