The Hemel Symphony Orchestra was formed when the Dacorum Symphony Orchestra announced its closure in the summer of 2018. After more than forty-five years of distinguished local musical activity, three of its members felt unable to accept that this was the end. Enquiries of members of the DSO showed there was an interest in continuing to play together and rehearse on Tuesday evenings. Accordingly, the “gang of three” put in motion a project to re-launch the orchestra under a new name and with a new conductor. The trio of Chris Crawley, Brian Windsor and Chris Shelley became the core of the committee of the Hemel Symphony Orchestra. Chris Shelley suggested that Maestro Claudio Di Meo, a local conductor who was at the time the director of Lumina Choir, might be approached with a view to having the new orchestra accompany the choir in their forthcoming performance of Mozart’s Requiem. The new orchestra met for its first rehearsal on 6th November 2018 in the atmospheric, though cramped Heath Barn, Boxmoor. On 19th January 2019, it gave its first concert in St John’s Church, Berkhamsted, playing the Mozart and completing the programme with Schubert’s Symphony No 8 (“The Unfinished”). On the strength of that collaboration Claudio became the regular conductor of the Hemel Symphony Orchestra and made a project out of developing the orchestra. A performance of Russian music, including Rachmaninov’s challenging Symphony No 2 in November 2019, less than a year after the orchestra’s first appearance, was a strong testament to its progress and his faith in its potential. This was followed in January 2020 by two wonderful performances of Orff’s Carmina Burana, in St Albans and Potters Bar, before the arrival of Covid and various associated social restrictions caused a hiatus in its activities. Since then, the orchestra has not only returned to form, but made further progress. A key aspect of the HSO’s mission is its commitment to nurturing emerging talent. It has invited young, promising musicians to perform as soloists with the orchestra, providing them with a significant platform to advance their artistry in a professional setting. Through these opportunities, the HSO not only enriches its own performances but also contributes to the broader musical landscape by supporting the next generation of classical musicians. Recent highlights include a celebrated visit to Recoare Terme, Northern Italy, in the spring of 2024, which captivated audiences and strengthened the orchestra’s international profile. The HSO is now part of a continuum of amateur performance in the Hemel Hempstead area that goes back to 1970. It started with the formation of the Dacorum Philharmonic under Gordon Heard, shortly followed by the Hemel Hempstead Orchestra in 1972 under Tom Loten. Sometime in the late 70s the two merged to form the Hemel Hempstead Orchestra, with Thomas Loten as its conductor. In the 1990s the HHO became the Dacorum Symphony Orchestra (DSO). Now it is the intention of the Hemel Symphony Orchestra to continue this legacy into the future, in particular to support and encourage local young musicians to enjoy playing orchestral music.  With its partnership with St John’s Church, Boxmoor, the orchestra is now an established part of the local music scene in Hemel Hempstead, with an enthusiastic and loyal audience.