President - His Serene Highness Dr Donatus, Prince of Hohenzollern
Upcoming Events
Our Autumn Concert programme opens with one of Haydn’s most upbeat and celebratory Symphonies based loosely on an ancient plainchant, hence the title 'Alleluia'.
Handel Organ Concertos have been greatly treasured for their melodic charm and effervescent nature. This one abounds in magical bird song imagery, which gives it the title ‘The Cuckoo and the Nightingale’.
Malcolm Arnold, leading 20th Century British composer and writer of some of the best ever film scores, composed his 2nd Clarinet Concerto for legendary jazzer, Benny Goodman. It ends with a riotous romp that always brings the house down.
Beethoven’s 4th Symphony, written at a time when the composer was in love with Therese Brunswick, glows throughout with glorious melodic warmth, good humour and radiance.
A concert not to be missed!
Meet the Soloists
Poppy Beddoe (clarinet)
Geoff Tuson (organ)
Poppy Beddoe - Clarinet
Poppy Beddoe is a versatile solo, orchestral, and chamber clarinettist, performing widely across the UK and internationally.
Her debut album Soliloquy (2021, Ulysses Arts) features her own transcriptions of works by Bach and Hildegard of Bingen. Recent highlights include the premiere and recording of Matthew Taylor’s Concertino—written for her—with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, released by Toccata Classics and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Poppy has appeared as a Guest Artist at the University of Houston and the Texas New Music Festival. Recent and upcoming concerto performances include Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the Piccadilly Sinfonietta, Malcolm Arnold’s Second Clarinet Concerto at the Malcolm Arnold International Festival, and the Rietz Concerto with Bushey Symphony Orchestra. Other 2026 engagements include recitals at Blackheath Halls, on the Rachmaninov Piano Boat and chamber music for Clare Hall, Cambridge and at the St Magnus International Festival.
Committed to music education and outreach, Poppy teaches at the Junior Royal Academy of Music and works with its Widening Participation team. She also tours with MishMash Productions, bringing classical music to young audiences. She is Artistic Director of the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival and a concert series in the South of France.
In 2023, she was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for significant contribution to the profession. She studied music at King’s College London and completed her Master’s at the Royal Academy of Music in 2016.
Matthew chats with guest clarinet soloist Poppy Beddoe ahead of our Autumn Concert on Saturday 3 October 2026 in St Andrew's Parish Church, Farnham where Poppy will perform Matthew Arnold's Clarinet Concerto No.2. In this video Poppy and Matthew perform a couple of excerpts and share insights into this amazing piece of music from one of our leading 20th Century British composers.
Geoff Tuson - Organ
Geoff Tuson began his musical education during a somewhat hectic upbringing with his five siblings, each of whom played a different instrument. Learning the violin and piano from a young age, it was after he became a chorister at St. Peter’s, Frimley that the idea of tackling the organ became a priority. At the age of 14 he commenced lessons with John Belcher at St Peter & St Paul, Godalming.
He later spent a total of six years studying at the Royal College of Music in London with Margaret Phillips and then subsequently with David Graham and Sophie-Veronique Cauchefer-Choplin whilst completing his postgraduate studies. He was a recipient of the Harold Darke prize for excellence in undergraduate organ performance. Studying at the RCM also afforded him opportunities to play famous instruments in France, Holland, North and East Germany as well as participating in masterclasses with internationally-renowned organists such as Dame Gillian Weir and Thomas Trotter.
Geoff is in demand as a performer and has given recitals at many venues including St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Martin-in-the-fields, Canterbury Cathedral, Christchurch Priory and Brentwood Cathedral. He is also valued as a highly-skilled accompanist having played alongside the visiting choir Saint John Singers for many years at cathedrals all over the country. In this endeavour he has been fortunate to work alongside two first-rate musical directors, Andy Phillips and Jeremy Jackman. He has also been the regular rehearsal accompanist for the Surrey Heath Singers since he was a student, accompanying many concerts on the piano, organ and as a continuo player within orchestral concerts.
He is a well-respected and sought-after teacher and has worked in various schools in Surrey and Hampshire over the years. In addition to piano teaching at Salesian College, Farnborough and Lord Wandsworth College, he is a Recital Teacher at The Sixth Form College, Farnborough, a role which involves working one-to-one with A-Level music students, no matter the instrument, to prepare and enhance their performances. In addition to this main focus at the College he is the accompanist to the Contemporary Voices and Chamber Choir.
Having held Organist and Choirmaster positions at The Royal Garrison Church of All Saints, Aldershot and prior to that, St Andrew’s, Frimley Green for some combined 20 years, he is currently without a regular Sunday engagement but deputises regularly at St. Andrew’s, Farnham and the Cathedral Church of St Michael & St George, Aldershot.
Future Dates
Christmas Soirée 2026
Sunday 13 December, 3-4pm Bury Court Barn, Bentley
Spring Concert 2027
Saturday 13 March, 7:30pm St Andrew's Church, Farnham
May Concert 2027
Sunday 9 May, 3-4pm Bury Court Barn, Bentley
Summer Concert 2027
Saturday 12 June, 7:30pm St Andrew's Church, Farnham
Concert History
Summer 2026
Sibelius Andante Festivo
Mozart Adagio and Fugue in C minor
Clara Schumann Violin Songs Soloist - Clara-Sophia Wernig
Robert Schumann Three Oboe Romances Soloist - James Turnbull
Elgar Sospiri
Elgar Serenade for Strings
Spring 2026
Beethoven Prometheus Overture Associate Conductor - Sasha Parker
David Matthews Winter Remembered Soloist - Vera Edgington
Schumann Cello Concerto Soloist - Yoel Rubin
Beethoven Symphony No.2
October 2025
Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture Guest Conductor - Sasha Parker
Lloyd Moore Remembrance
Sibelius Suite for Violin & Strings in B Major Soloist - Sasha Parker
Beethoven Symphony No.3 - Eroica
Guest Leader - Julia Wilson
May 2025
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Soloists - Sasha Parker, Chloe Lui & Kenza Stamselberg
Vivaldi Concerto for Four Violins
Soloists - Sasha Parker, Chloe Lui, Kenza Stamselberg & Yume Tomita
March 2025
Taylor Castle Vistas
Mozart Oboe Concerto Soloist - Sasha Puller
Mozart Andante for Flute & Orchestra Soloist - Ami Lodge
Beethoven Symphony No.7
October 2024
Beethoven Coriolanus Overture
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Soloist - Maya Crawford-Phillips
Schumann Piano Concerto Soloist - Rebecca You
April 2024
Vivaldi Summer Soloist - Sasha Parker
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto In D Soloist - Sasha Parker
Elgar Serenade
John-Ellis Wallace Serenade (World Premiere)
Dag Wiren Serenade
March 2024
Piazzolla Spring Soloist - Alix Vaillot-Szwarc
Hindermith Trauermusik Soloist - Jemimah Quirke
Schumann Fairy Tale Picture Soloist - Jemimah Quirke
Beethoven Two Romances Soloist - Anna Zilberbord
Mahler Adagietto from 5th Symphony
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.2 Soloist - Florian Mitrea
October 2023
Barber Adagio for Strings Guest Conductor - Sasha Parker
Haydn Violin Concerto in G Major Soloist - Jelena Horvak
Panufnik Violin Concerto Soloist - Mira Morton
Chopin Piano Concerto No.2 Soloist - Mischa Carr
March 2023
Vivaldi Spring - The Four Seasons Soloist - James Marshall
Faure Apres un rêve Soloists - Laura Lin & Mika Petrovic
Malcolm Arnold Horn Concerto No.2 Soloist - Alexei Watkins
Double Violin Concert Soloists - Clara-Sophia Wernig & Vadym Perig
Serenade for Guitar Soloist - Ketone Ozaki
Debussy Sacred and Profane Dances Soloist - Rebecca You
Grieg Holberg Suite
October 2022
Handel Overture. Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Taylor Castle Vistas (World Premiere)
Vaughan Williams Oboe concerto Soloist - James Turnbull
Schubert Symphony No.5
June 2022
Elgar Elegy Op.58
Bach Concerto for Oboe & Violin in C minor
Soloists - Marjorie Carrington (Oboe) & Elizabeth Cooney (Violin)
Taylor Clarinet Concertino Soloist - Poppy Beddoe
Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings Op.48
Prayer for Ukraine
March 2022
Mendelssohn String Symphony
Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor Soloist - Özgür Kaya
Bernstein Thirteen Anniversaries
Prayer for Ukraine
October 2021
Simpson Allegro Deciso for Strings
Mozart Violin Concerto No.1 in B flat major Soloist - Coco Tomita
Haydn "La Passione" Symphony No.49
June 2021
Grieg Holberg Suite for Strings Opus 40
Taylor Concertino for Violin & Strings
Dvorak Serenade for Strings in E Major Opus 22
May 2021 (Farnham Sinfonia Ensemble)
Beethoven Duo No.1 for Viola & Double Bass
Kreisler Liebesleid, Caprice Viennoise
Schubert Notturno for Piano Trio & Trout Quintet
October 2019
McCabe Red Leaves
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A Major Soloist - Michael Collins
Haydn "La Riene" Symphony No. 85
March 2019
Elgar Serenade in E minor Opus 20
Nielsen Three pieces from Opus 3
Mozart Horn Concerto No.4 Soloist - Richard Watkins
October 2018
Sibelius Impromptu for strings
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 Soloist - Elizabeth Cooney
Beethoven Three Bagatelles from Opus 33
Haydn "Philosopher" Symphony No.22
April 2018
Haydn "Trauer" Symphony No. 44
Mozart Symphony No.1
Arnold Flute Concertos 1 & 2 and Three Fantasie
Soloist - Susan Milan
Lloyd Sinfonietta
