South Ulster Sinfonia brings film favourites to Tannaghmore Primary School

SOUTH Ulster Sinfonia will bring the sound of the cinema to Tannaghmore Primary School on Saturday, November 14, with a concert designed to appeal to families, film fans and people who may never have considered going to an orchestral concert before.

The community orchestra, which will be led by Brigid Walton at Tannaghmore PS, will perform music associated with some of the best-known films and musicals of recent decades, including James Bond, Out of Africa, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jurassic Park, Wicked, The Chronicles of Narnia, Mamma Mia and My Fair Lady.

The programme will also include two of Johann Strauss's best-known works, The Blue Danube and the Radetzky March, alongside Reel Fiddlin', a selection of traditional tunes including The Wind That Shakes the Barley, The De'il Amang the Tailors and The Soldier's Joy.

Violist Edel Moore will sing the jazz standard ‘Misty’ and Puccini's ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’.

South Ulster Sinfonia’s musical director, Philip Walton, a violist with the Ulster Orchestra, said the programme had been chosen deliberately to open the doors of orchestral music to a wider audience.

He said: “I wanted to put together a programme filled with music which people already know and enjoy, particularly music from films. You do not need to be a regular concertgoer or know anything about classical music to recognise many of these themes.

“There is something very immediate about hearing this music performed by a live orchestra. A soundtrack which people may know from the cinema or from watching a favourite film at home suddenly takes on a different energy when the full orchestra is playing it in front of you.

“My hope is that people who might not normally think of coming to an orchestral concert will give this one a try. It is a chance to hear just how varied an orchestra can sound - from film music and traditional tunes to Strauss, jazz and Puccini.”

The concert will also have a distinctly family-friendly feel, with children, and adults, invited to dress as some of their favourite characters from the films represented in the programme.

Violist Eleanor McGillie said the concert will give younger audience members an opportunity to experience a live orchestra at close quarters.

She said: “The concert at Tannaghmore Primary School is a great opportunity for parents to bring their children along, and they can even come dressed as some of their favourite characters from the films.

“The concert is open to everyone and, as a community orchestra, we would love to welcome people who have never heard us before as well as those who already know the orchestra.

“I started playing the viola when I was in P4, and, having not played in over 20 years, it’s an absolute joy to be back playing again with such a dedicated group of musicians of all ages, who put their hearts and souls into the rehearsals. We hope to inspire young budding musicians to keep playing and welcome people to get back into playing their instrument of choice. Come along to our concert and feel the magic of the movies in close quarters with our fantastic musicians.”

South Ulster Sinfonia is a community orchestra of almost 70 musicians, with members travelling from across Northern Ireland and the border counties to rehearse and perform together.

The concert takes place at Tannaghmore Primary School on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available: southulstersinfonia.eventbrite.co.uk