The initials OSJ will be a mystery to many people, but for those in the know, it has become an important part of Oxford’s musical scene.
The Orchestra of St John’s has played a key role in the city, sharing its music with diverse audiences and exploring new ways of involving minority groups.
It plays at schools for children with special educational needs more than 70 times a year and regularly performs at local hospitals.
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The orchestra also has an offshoot, the OSJ Voices, a mix of amateur and professional singers, including doctors, teachers, accountants and priests.
The singers recently entertained a 350-strong audience at Oxford Town Hall during a performance of Carmina Burana, a cantata by composer Carl Orff, alongside an orchestra of young musicians from Oxford and its twin cities.
The Orchestra of St John’s was founded by John Lubbock, who is now its conductor and artistic director.
His life has had music at its core - he was a chorister at St John’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, studied singing at the Royal Academy of Music and was a founder member of the London Symphony Chorus.
He is best known today as a conductor and his long association with the BBC Promenade Concerts.
In 1999, he received an honorary fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music and in 2015, was awarded an OBE for services to the Orchestra of St John’s and helping disabled people.
The Sunday Times recognised his talents, telling readers: “There is something very special about Lubbock’s commitment to the music he conducts and how, through his chosen singers and instrumentalists, he communicates its gist to the audience.”
There was certainly much praise for his leadership at the recent concert at Oxford Town Hall, with the audience giving a rousing five-minute ovation at the end.
Supporting the OSJ Voices were young musicians from Oxford, twin cities Leiden in Holland, Bonn in Germany, Padua in Italy, Wrocław in Poland and Leon in Nicaragua and former twin city Perm in Russia.
The visitors were hosted by Oxford families and took part in rehearsals at New Road Baptist Church in Bonn Square and other venues in the days before the concert.
The week was organised by May Wylie, Oxford’s former twin city officer, and members of the individual twin city links.
Bill Pinkerton, chairman of Oxford International Links, said: “We were delighted and privileged to join May Wylie and John Lubbock in creating this inspirational project, with the Orchestra of St John’s providing the structure and choir for the event.”
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