Talented young musicians are benefiting from the rising reputation of their orchestra after an impressed donor gave £2,500 to support them.

The anonymous donation is helping young musicians performing with the Epsom Symphony Orchestra (ESO), which was founded in 1951.

The mystery benefactor was so impressed with the wide and adventurous variety of music performed by the orchestra at one of its concerts that he made a series of donations to it, specifically to help develop the area’s young musical talent.

Darrell Davison, ESO’s conductor, said: "To have made such an impression on an audience member, and one who is used to such high-calibre orchestras is wonderful. 

"We are very proud of the music we create and the concerts we perform at Epsom Playhouse.  To be able to offer the young musicians of Epsom the opportunity, not only to play with us, but also to receive some financial support, is a fabulous offer and we are very appreciative."

Several members have benefited from the donations, including Katie Stevens, from Epsom, who leads the viola section. 

A Masters student at the Royal Academy of Music, she receives financial support to allow her to play with the orchestra most weeks.

The 27-year-old said: "I have been playing with Epsom Symphony Orchestra for 10 years now and really appreciate the opportunity to play such challenging and well-known classical music. 

"While I study music every day this is a way to keep my hand in the modern and bigger orchestral scene.

"The orchestra sounds so impressive for such a small area but when you read about Darrell’s pedigree, there is no wonder. 

"I would encourage any young people interested in joining the orchestra to go for it.  Darrell is very approachable and supportive of young people."

The next Epsom Symphony Orchestra concert will take place at the Epsom Playhouse on Saturday March 8, at 7.30pm.

The concert, Spring Classics, will include a dramatic collection of music, beginning with a work which reflects the many moods of the sea - Debussy’s La Mer, which reflects the composer’s life-long fascination with the oceans.

The concert will also feature two young soloists, Polish violinist Michal Cwizewicz and Russian cellist Liubov Ulybyusheva, who will be performing Delius’ beautiful and haunting Concerto for Violin and Cello, which portrays a musical love story set against the backdrop of the First World War.

The orchestra will finish by performing Tchaikovsky’s dramatic Manfred Symphony, which is based on Lord Byron’s poem of the same name.  Tchaikovsky himself wrote of this piece: "I became terribly infatuated with Manfred, and cannot remember ever having felt such pleasure in working."

Mr Davison studied music as a scholar at Charterhouse and at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge University.  He has conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, and is the conductor of The Little Symphony of London and The New Philharmonic Orchestra.  He won the Sir John Barbirolli Conducting Competition in 1979 and the Leeds Conducting Competition in 1984.

To book tickets for the concert on March 8 call 01372 742555 or email esostickets@gmail.com.

For more information about Epsom Symphony Orchestra click here.