Berwick has been one of the few towns in the region without a Music Society; this has now changed! Following its launch in 2024, Berwick Music Society is now proudly presenting its third full concert season.
Berwick Music Society celebrates the best in regional, national and international classical and contemporary music performed by professional soloists and small ensembles. Our ambition also is to support and showcase work by composers and performers in Northumberland and the Borders and to reach out to our local community to encourage more involvement in music.
A small dedicated team work behind the scenes to make everything happen, backed by supportive patrons who show their personal support for the town’s ever-evolving musical offerings.
Advertising
You can further support Berwick Music Society by sponsoring or advertising with us. To advertise contact Andrew Field at andrewfield3@me.com.
Patrons
Michael Allmey, Anthony Atkinson, Colette Burden, Nicky Clarke, Janyce Davies, Andrew Field, John Fox, Margaret Fox, Mike Greener, Joe Lang, Rose Lovett, Rosemary Mackenzie, Laura McGinlay, Joyce Miller, June Neilson, Catherine Preston, John Spiers & John Stobart.
The BMS committee
Dr Catherine Preston (Chair)
Catherine is a flautist and an independent researcher in music, psychology and education. As well as being chair and a trustee of Berwick Music Society, she is a trustee for Bolton Chamber Orchestra and The Cobweb Orchestra and a member of the advisory board for the Liverpool Combined Authority Music Hub. Before moving from Manchester to Berwick upon Tweed in 2019, she was the external consultant for quality assurance and evaluation for Sefton and Knowsley Music Hub (SKY) and for The Halle Orchestra’s Community Music programmes. Her roles in higher education include training and mentoring music teachers for the Post Graduate Certificate in Music Education at Manchester Metropolitan University, The Royal Northern College of Music. At Edge Hill University she was a member of the academic team for the delivery of Edge Hill University’s MA in Music Education. From 1995 to 2009 she was Director of Music and Expressive Arts at Philips High School, Whitefield, Manchester. She has also been a teacher with Stockport Instrumental Teaching Service and Bury Music Service (flute, clarinet, saxophone). Currently she is a lecturer (part time) at University College London, Institute of Education as a member of the MA in Music Education team.
John Fox (Treasurer)
After a career in accountancy, IT and banking, John was keen to spend his retirement making amends and repaying his debt to society. Music having been a great passion since mid-teens, it was natural that he should gravitate towards it as soon as he had time on his hands. Having spent many years attending orchestral concerts in Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh, John finally had his ears opened to live chamber music on moving to Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, in 1989. He has since had the great privilege to serve as President of Music in Peebles from 2010 to 2024 and to have been a Board member of Chamber Music Scotland from 2013 to 2021. John now divides his time between Peebles and Berwick-upon-Tweed (his wife’s home town) and is thrilled to be involved with Berwick Music Society and to play a part in bringing the joy of high quality live chamber music to the widest possible audience in Berwick and the surrounding area.
Administration
Download our policies here:-
BMSoc Equality and Diversity Policy
BMSoc Privacy and Data Protection