Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union

The Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union (NAOU) was established at Newbury, Berkshire UK in 1879, and was first conducted by William Dines Eatwell, a local musician.^[1] Women musicians were included from 1882. After Eatwell's death in 1893 conductorship was taken over by J.S. Liddle,^[2] who also conducted the English Ladies Orchestra. Guest conductors included Hubert Parry and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.^[1]

A prominent member of the Orchestra from 1885 was Marian Arkwright, a pianist, composer, violist and double-bass player who joined the orchestra in 1885 and conducted on some occasions before her death in 1922^[3]. The NAOU continued to perform though the First World War despite losses, a 1916 concert concluding with nine national anthems of allied nations^[3]. After the First World War conductors included Douglas Fox and George Weldon. Fox conducted despite losing an arm in the First World War. He conducted the 50th jubilee anniversary concert on 4 December 1929, which included choirs for the Choral Symphony.^[4]

The NAOU continued to perform through the Second World War ^[3]. It was renamed as the Newbury Symphony Orchestra in the 1960s holding its centenary concert under that name in 1979 conducted by Adrian Brown, who conducted from 1978 to 2004^[3]. It continues to hold concerts^[3] and has been described as one of the oldest societies of its kind.^[2][5]

In recent years, the orchestra have done a lot to support many young musicians in the Newbury area as well as further afield. Since 2011, they have been active on social media, particularly on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, as the Newbury Symphony Orchestra.