Welcome to Bath All Comers Orchestra

BACO, the Bath based orchestra is open to all and provides an invaluable opportunity to gain or expand experience in orchestral playing in a relaxed environment.

Orchestra History

Bath All-Comers' Orchestra was started in September 2002 by Sheila Bunt, because, having learned to play the clarinet, she found Bath had no real amateurs' orchestra where she could play. She wrote to the Bath Chronicle, and sent appeals to the Bath Senior Schools, and Bernard Newman, Head of Music at Monkton Combe School offered himself as Musical Director, and the school as a venue. Thirty two people attended an inaugural meeting, and the first rehearsal was held on September 10th 2002. Since then, the numbers have increased, and we now number around 60 players, averaging about 40 at rehearsals, which are alternate Tuesdays. We do two concerts a year, one at Christmas, and another in the Summer, both with a party afterwards. As the name suggests, we welcome all comers, and our aim is to have fun, and enjoy ourselves! There is no scary audition! We are very grateful to Bernard Newman who conducted the orchestra from the beginning in September 2002 until his retirement in June 2009. We are fortunate to have David Sibley as our new conductor.

Come and Have a Go, it's fun!

Next term's rehearsal dates


  • Tuesday January 12 2010 - cancelled due to weather conditions
  • Tuesday January 19 2010
  • Tuesday January 26 2010
  • Tuesday February 2 2010
  • Tuesday February 9 2010
  • Tuesday February 23 2010
  • Tuesday March 2 2010
  • Tuesday March 9 2010
  • Tuesday March 16 2010
  • Tuesday March 23 2010

BACO will be meeting weekly from after Christmas and the extra rehearsals will enable us to hold 3 concerts a year in March, June and November on 3rd Saturday in each month.

"If music be the food of love, play on." - William Shakespeare