The Orchestra
North Somerset Philharmonia was formed in 1995 as the Nailsea Concert Orchestra and has been performing classical favourites in North Somerset ever since. In October 2023, the members voted to change the orchestra name to North Somerset Philharmonia. This reflects the wider repertoire that we now perform and will make it easier for the orchestra to encourage players and audience from further afield.
With many of our founding members still playing a vital part in the orchestra, along with the addition of many more new players, the orchestra continues to go from strength to strength and has come to be seen as something of a local institution.
Our members span a wide age range and all share a great passion and enthusiasm for playing music.
We enjoying playing classics and light music and regularly perform Beethoven, Mozart, Rossini and Haydn, along with seasonal pieces, and film scores.
Regularly featuring promising young solo musicians and vocalists, the orchestra offers music for the young and old alike. See our Our next concert page for details of our next concert.
Philip Draisey – Conductor
Philip Draisey is an orchestral conductor with over a decade of experience leading ensembles across the south of England. He is the newly appointed Principal Conductor of North Somerset Philharmonia, and also serves as Principal Conductor of Keynsham Orchestra and Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra. He recently concluded six successful years as Musical Director of Wessex Concert Orchestra, where he built a reputation for ambitious programming and dynamic performances.
Philip studied music at the University of Southampton, graduating with First Class Honours in conducting and piano. His training included masterclasses at the Royal Academy of Music and the Dartington International Summer School, with guidance from Neil Thomson, Patrick Bailey, John Farrer, Steve Dummer and Stefan Hofkes.
In recent years, Philip has conducted a wide range of symphonic, choral, and concerto repertoire, from Mahler and Stravinsky to Baroque works, film scores and premières of contemporary commissions. His leadership has revitalised ensembles, expanded memberships, and brought sell-out performances. He is equally at home collaborating with professional soloists, commissioning new works, and leading outreach projects. Recent highlights have been Gershwin’s Piano Concerto, The Planets, The 5th Symphonies of Shostakovich and Mahler and an educational outreach project in Wiltshire involving over 250 primary school children. His musical versatility reflects a lifelong passion for inspiring both musicians and audiences through shared performance.
Alongside his conducting, Philip is an active professional countertenor, holding an Alto Lay Clerkship at Bath Abbey for nearly a decade. He is in high demand as a vocal soloist and choir trainer, and has appeared as a singer in television productions for the BBC and ITV. He regularly appears on Radio broadcasts and CD recordings.
Outside of music, Philip is an avid cook, weightlifter and cinephile.
Our Leader: Ali White
Ali White studied violin and viola with Professor Richard Crabtree before attending Birmingham Conservatoire where she gained a BMus(Hons) and Post Graduate Diploma in Performance. Whilst completing here Post Graduate studies, she was awarded the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s string training scheme, and also toured and recorded with Chris de Burgh. Ali regularly plays in a string quartet and has been teaching violin and viola in the local area for over 20 years.
If you’d like to lean more about the orchestra, please contact us