Derek Carden - Conductor

Derek started his musical career as a cathedral chorister (Rochester) then read music at Nottingham University and the London Opera Centre.

He specialises in conducting, accompanying opera and church music, on organ or piano, giving organ recitals, and in teaching.  He has appeared throughout the UK, Europe and the US. He has recorded an orchestral CD with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, featuring the late Sir Patrick Moore.

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Liz Norton - Leader

Liz’s earliest ambitions were firstly to be Fred Astaire, then a guinea-pig breeder, but thanks to her father’s LP of “Danse Macabre” and the music of Stephane Grappelli she developed a love of the violin that she would be unable to shake off.
Her studies at the Royal College, and Trinity College of Music, with a degree in Music with Psychology from Middlesex University, enabled not only a diverse and challenging career as a freelance violinist, but also as a dedicated teacher.
Liz teaches at Sevenoaks School, has performed with a varied array of orchestras, ensembles, pop and session work, including the West End production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. 

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Polo Piatti - Artistic Director

Polo is an award-winning British-Argentine composer and one of the few high-profile international living musicians concentrating exclusively on the creation and promotion of melodic, universally appealing classical music. His ‘Bohemian Piano Concerto' was premiered in Virginia, USA to a long-standing ovation and later recorded by the National Symphony Orchestra in London together with his 'Old World Cello Concerto’. Polo's 'Christmas Concerto for Guitar & Orchestra’ CD has just been released and his multi-faith oratorio 'Libera Nos’ was premiered by the London Mozart Players recently. Polo is the founder and artistic director of the International Composers Festival 

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Committee

Chair - Sandra Goodsell  -  hastingssinfonia@gmail.com

Membership Secretary (Friends and Musicians) - Penny Phillips - hastingssinfoniafriends@gmail.com

Treasurer - Jane Richards

Secretary - Debbie Clarke

Librarian - Jonathan Bruce

Artistic Director - Polo Piatti

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Marketing and social media advisor - Alexandra Hudson

Safeguarding - Joanna Baxter

We pride ourselves on being a friendly inclusive orchestra. 
We are looking for new players to join us, especially strings and brass 

No audition is required (approx grade 6 and above)   hastingssinfoniafriends@gmail.com

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Charity

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In 2025, we are delighted to support Music for the Memory, a local singing group that provides free weekly sessions to support people with memory loss and mild to moderate dementia and their carers.

Attendees come from East Sussex often with their family, daily carers or from some local nursing homes.

They meet every Monday morning in the Emmanuel Church in Battle at 10:30 am plus have a lovely supportive cafe time at 11:30am. (held on the 1st Tues of the month not Monday)

Contact Jane Midwinter 07545 309 200 for more information

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