Conductor Anthony Brown and his FullTone Orchestra bring A French Fantasy to Cirencester this autumn

South West conductor Anthony Brown and his FullTone Orchestra will play St John Baptist Church, Cirencester in October.

The orchestra will present A French Fantasy: Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, among other arrangements, on Saturday October 8.

Those attending can expect to hear Boléro, Carmen No 1 Prélude, Danse Macabre, Sorcerer’s Apprentice and elements of Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14 among other arrangements. 

“I’m very excited to be playing in Cirencester having lived there for a time and the evening is going to be very special,” Anthony said.

The orchestra rehearses at Lavington School, near Devizes, Wiltshire. There are more than 150 musicians although each concert features between 50 and 65. The orchestra has grown in stature and what started as an amateur group now features three musicians who are fully professional. 

Music has been an important part of Anthony’s life since childhood. He was head chorister when young and he still owns the vinyl LP of nursery rhymes that his grandmother used to play him. 

“I remember, my mum and I lived with my grandparents, and I remember singing along to that LP. My uncle also lived with us and we used to eat supper in front of the TV with musicals constantly on repeat, especially King and I, South Pacific and Oklahoma.”

However, music wasn’t his first career. He worked as an accountant before owning a printing business and running a theatre company with his wife, Jemma. 

“I realised after meeting Jemma and after we restarted the theatre company that I really should have done music in some form straight from school. I then became determined to have my own orchestra/band.”

Although Anthony is a self-taught conductor he has been expertly mentored by Neil Skipper, currently director of music, Irish Guards Band.

Anthony, 44, lives in Devizes with Jemma, and between them, they have three children. Jemma is head of Devizes Music Academy and artistic director of the FullTone Orchestra.

Future plans include the orchestra performing Karl Jenkins’ Symphonic Adiemus in three cathedrals with a massed choir followed by its first professional tour of Carousel in Concert during 2023.

If you wish to purchase tickets for the show, please visit www.fto.org.uk. If you would like to find out more about FullTone Orchestra, visit http://fto.org.uk/