Oswestry Sinfonia was the brain-child of the then newly appointed Head of Music at Oswestry School - the town’s private “Grammar” independent school - Michael Bernamont. Appointed to the school in 1978, Michael was an accomplished violinist, teacher and conductor but found that Oswestry had no resident orchestra.

Undismayed, he proceeded to launch a public appeal to all the “closet musicians” in the area – the result was the founding of the orchestra on 9th February, 1979. Such a novel institution in a small market town more associated with the mining traditions of brass bands and the Welsh influence of male-voice choirs, might have been expected to die almost as quickly as it was formed, but in fact the orchestra went from strength to strength. Particular highlights in the early years included two Viennese Balls in the splendid setting of the Victoria Rooms (before they were gutted to become a 1980’s style night-club).

The repertoire of the orchestra steadily expanded and developed, ranging across the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods. Some of the most accomplished performances included Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherezade” Suite, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral), and a cycle of Haydn’s “London” symphonies.

A memorable performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto in 1991 took place with Moira Gray as soloist - the daughter of a playing member who had been trained through the Shropshire Schools Music Service and was beginning her professional career.

Throughout most of this time the orchestra was led by Huw Lloyd, a local violin teacher for the Shropshire Music Service, and who remains Leader today.