Records of York Symphony Orchestra

Minutes of committee meetings, 1910-1939, and related correspondence, 1919-1921; draft of annual report and annual general meeting report, 1913-1914; correspondence of committee members, 1903, 1911-1921; society accounts, 1898-1910, 1920, 1923-1926, 2011-2012, and accounts for individual performances, 1899-1902, 1915, 1923-1924, 1938; financial memos and receipts, 1900, 1914, 1921-1922; papers relating to subscriptions and ticket sales, c.1907-1909, 1912-1914; lists of members, 1911-1912, 1919-1920; rule cards, 1912-c.1914; papers concerning the revival of the orchestra, c.1919; papers concerning professional appointments, 1914, 1919, 1921, 1926; papers relating to rehearsals and concert dates, 1903, 1905, 1912, 1914-1919, 1921, 1933; notes on the 1913-1914 season, 1913-1914; publicity material, including concert programmes, 1899-1914, 1922-1926, 1933, 1937, 1948-2013, handbills, 1902-1913, prospectuses, 1911-1913, newspaper adverts and related correspondence, 1913-1914, newspaper reviews and reports, 1899-c.1935, published articles, 1900-1933, photographs of the orchestra, 1906, c.1913, and other material, 1979-2013.

The York Symphony Orchestra, or 'YSO,' was founded in 1898 by then York Minster organist, Thomas Tertius Noble, who conducted and composed for the orchestra until his departure in 1913 to take up a post in New York. The first rehearsal was held in June 1898, and the first concert took place on 5th April 1899. It included works by Elgar, German, and Tertius Noble himself.
The amateur orchestra continued to meet weekly and perform two concerts per year, as well as further special concerts, until the start of the First World War. Though plans were initially made to continue, and a memorial service at York Minster featured a performance by orchestra of Brahm's German Requiem, the orchestra was forced to suspend its programme during the war.
The orchestra was revived in 1919 and a number of concerts were given during the interwar period, but these were occasional rather than regular, such as to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales to York in 1933.
After the Second World War, the YSO was once more resurrected, and continues to this day in York as an amateur orchestra, currently performing three concerts annually.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute in 2006. A further addition was made to the archive in 2014.

The York Symphony Orchestra, or 'YSO,' was founded in 1898 by then York Minster organist, Thomas Tertius Noble, who conducted and composed for the orchestra until his departure in 1913 to take up a post in New York. The first rehearsal was held in June 1898, and the first concert took place on 5th April 1899. It included works by Elgar, German, and Tertius Noble himself.
The amateur orchestra continued to meet weekly and perform two concerts per year, as well as further special concerts, until the start of the First World War. Though plans were initially made to continue, and a memorial service at York Minster featured a performance by orchestra of Brahm's German Requiem, the orchestra was forced to suspend its programme during the war.
The orchestra was revived in 1919 and a number of concerts were given during the interwar period, but these were occasional rather than regular, such as to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales to York in 1933.
After the Second World War, the YSO was once more resurrected, and continues to this day in York as an amateur orchestra, currently performing three concerts annually.

A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute. This includes all material received in 2006. Later material has not yet been catalogued, please contact the Borthwick Institute for further information.

Created by S. A. Shearn, 13.05.15. Updated 25.04.16. to include 2014 accession.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are expected.

Published

GB 193