DYNAMIC musical director and cellist Glyn Oxley has added a new string to his bow as he takes on one of the county’s oldest orchestras - the Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra.

Glyn succeeds Mark Finch, who stepped down as its conductor last autumn after 20 years.

The 113-year-old orchestra, which has historical links to Gloucester Cathedral, has a strong musical reputation - and it is Glyn’s ambition to develop this, as well as securing its long-term financial stability.

“I am delighted to be asked to conduct the GSO,” said Glyn, who is musical director of the prestigious Gloucester Academy of Music and conducts the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra.

“The GSO has been an important part of the cultural landscape in Gloucestershire for more than 100 years and I am very keen to conserve and enhance that wonderful tradition under my directorship,” said the 45-year-old father-of-four, who lives in Hartpury.

"There are some very fine players in the orchestra and it is particularly nice to see ex-members of the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra, which I conduct, now playing in its ranks.”

Glyn’s first concert with the orchestra will be on March 15, at 7.30pm in St Barnabas Church, Gloucester, when the city’s Mayor and Mayoress Councillor and Mrs Chris Chatterton will be attending.

“I am very much looking forward to my first concert featuring Dvorak’s Symphony No 9 'from the New World' - a piece much loved by orchestral players and audience alike,” said Glyn. “Smetana’s Ma Vlast and the popular Finlandia Overture by Sibelius will also make up the programme.”

He is on the look-out for more string players of Grade 7 standard upwards and invites anyone who is interested in joining to contact him by emailing glynoxley@gmail.com or chairman Viv Hargreaves on vivhargreaves@yahoo.com – or by visiting the website on www.gloucestershiresymphony.org.uk