The Oxford University Orchestra (OUO) is the University’s premier student ensemble. The orchestra is the flagship ensemble of the Oxford University Music Society, and as such its instrumentalists are selected from the very best the University has to offer, including a large number of former members of the National Youth Orchestra and BBC Young Musician finalists. To complement its extraordinarily talented student members, OUO is always conducted by a professional and regularly uses professional soloists. Previous conductors include Daniel Harding, Peter Stark, Douglas Boyd, Jason Lai and Garry Walker (see a full list here). OUO is fortunate enough to include Steven Isserlis, Midori, and Ian Bostridge among its patrons. Funded by ticket sales, the University, the Oxford University Music Society, and generous private donors (see the Friends of OUO scheme), the orchestra aims to tackle ambitious and entertaining programmes. Previously, the OUO has featured Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony, Mahler’s Fifth Symphony and Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra.