A PROFESSIONAL Kidderminster orchestra is tuning up for a triumphant return following the disappointment of the loss of funding last year.

The Kidderminster Festival Orchestra (TKFO) is busy recruiting new members and sponsors ahead of its inaugural concert on Saturday, November 4.

After originally establishing in 2015 and setting up as a charitable company the following year, TKFO was hit with a setback when the Arts Council of Great Britain said it would not be able to provide funding for the project.

But the orchestra is battling back having signed a number of acclaimed performers. They are now looking to build on this with more musicians coming on board.

Among them includes Robert Gibbs, who is leader of Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia and who will lead TKFO, cellist Rebecca Rose and violinists Shulah Oliver and Elizabeth Simons.

Other members of the group will be auditioned from young performance graduates from Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Birmingham City universities.

Artistic director and principal conductor Annette Jackson, who founded TKFO, said: “After it was established the Arts Council would not be able to assist with this project, the town of Kidderminster has demonstrated its reaction.

“People have been magnificent in their support of a number of projects designed to set up the infrastructure of TKFO and put it back on its feet.

“We have had support from Tesco, Frankie and Benny's, TH Baker, M&S, Thornton’s, DW Fitness, CMS Motors (Vauxhall), West Midland Safari Park, WFDC Xpression Fund, Councillors Marcus Hart and Nathan Desmond and Kidderminster Town Council.

“We are delighted to announce that several very highly qualified musicians of national, if not international, repute have been or are about to be appointed into positions of musical leadership.

“As a result, the ‘Friends of the TKFO’ will be undertaking various fund raising projects to get the infrastructure of the orchestra onto a secure footing.”

Anyone interested in performing with TKFO or who can help with fund raising can contact Annette on 01562 754217 or via email: annettejacksonmusic@gmail.com