Founded in 1998, the Southwark Sinfonietta is a lively Classical-sized ensemble of motivated players, both music teachers and amateurs, based in south London. The proportions of the orchestra allow us to explore orchestral music that encourages the use of our chamber music skills, and apply them to a varied orchestral repertoire.
About Conductor David Hackbridge Johnson
David Hackbridge Johnson studied singing and piano at the Guildhall School of Music and took violin lessons with Louis Rutland. He attended the conducting classes of George Hurst and Norman del Mar, before becoming a jazz drummer for 15 years, playing in the festivals at Montreux, Hay-on-Wye and Glion.
He is a composer of 18 symphonies, 10 string quartets, 19 piano sonatas, and dozens of chamber works and songs. His opera Blaze of Glory was commissioned for the 75th anniversary of Welsh National Opera and has recently been revived. His opera Madeleine was commissioned for the 50th anniversary of Surrey Opera. He
has recently conducted and recorded a CD of his own music with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Olomouc.
He is currently the conductor of the Streatham St. Bart’s chamber Orchestra. His poetry and essays on music and literature have appeared in The Guardian, PN Review, The Fortnightly Review, Salzburg Review, Shearsman Press and The Loxham Press.
