When the new city of Milton Keynes was in its infancy, an amateur symphony orchestra was formed in 1971 with the aim of performing works from the full range of the orchestral repertoire to a high standard. Now, years later, that same orchestra has become an important part of the cultural and musical life of the city and the surrounding area.

Guest Conductor

For its 4th July 2026 summer concert, the Milton Keynes Sinfonia is pleased to welcome Tom Molloy to rehearse and conduct the orchestra.

As a French horn player, Tom Molloy was a member of the National Youth Orchestra and has performed with a range of orchestras, including the Northern Sinfonia, working with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle and Sir Colin Davis. At Durham University, he founded Durham Sinfonietta and became the conductor of Durham University Symphony Orchestra, Durham Contemporary Music Ensemble, and later the Alumni Orchestra.

Tom has conducted numerous youth groups including Milton Keynes Youth Orchestra. Locally, he has conducted both Trinity Camerata and the Enigma Orchestra. He studied conducting with Peter Stark and Douglas Bostock and was a prize winner at the Boswil International Conducting Course in Switzerland.

Tom is a teacher and the Director of the Tommy Flowers SCITT with whom he has trained over 500 new teachers for the schools of Milton Kenyes. He has two boys who are starting to learn musical instruments and has been a member of Milton Keynes Sinfonia since 2009.

Musical Director

David Knight is the principal conductor and has been with the orchestra since 1992.
The Orchestra at that time was few in number and he has been largely responsible for helping to build the orchestra to its current size and consistently challenges members with a bold choice of programme.

He is also Principal 'Cellist with the Bedford Sinfonia with whom he has also appeared as a soloist and conductor.
He is a member of other leading local orchestras, including the Orchestra of Stowe Opera and the Cornerstone Chamber Orchestra.

David is well known in Beds and Bucks as an educator, teacher of lower strings, youth music tutor and conductor of the Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestra

The Players

The orchestra is very much a community orchestra, run primarily for its members and those interested to support them in the performance of major orchestral works.