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HIGH SOCIETY
ORCHESTRA
Stunning live music from a golden era
Evening ball live orchestra experience.
Ritzy style afternoon tea experience
Welcome to Tom Bott's High Society Orchestra, specialists in providing distinctive live music for exclusive private events. Using original scores from the 1930s onward, from old Hollywood film musicals to Light English and traditional ballroom repertoire, we bring the sounds of the silver screen and high society to your event. Expertly presented as a centre piece, yet never over-whelming, guests can enjoy each other's company alongside a magical soundscape from a golden era.
Nothing quite compares to the sound of a live orchestra.
Our Music
OUR MUSIC
From our extensive library of original sheet music, we carefully curate a diverse programme - from classic Hollywood stage and screen to light music miniatures and recognisable ballroom favourites - tailored to your event.
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Our old Hollywood film musical selections include famous songs and melodies you'll recognise from iconic legends such as Irving Berlin, Arthur Lowe and Rogers & Hammerstein. Popular shows including Top Hat, Call me Madam, South Pacific, High Society, The King & I, My Fair Lady, The Sound Of Music and many more...
'The Waltz King' Johann Strauss II and Franz Lehar bring us some of the most recognisable waltzes from Vienna. The orchestra also perform other popular ballroom styles include the Foxtrot, Paso Doble and the Tango! Guests are welcome to dance to these memorable pieces once performed in the grand ballrooms of Austria.
Whilst much of our light music originates from English composers, we also include kindred works from around the world, creating an elegant and easy-flowing soundscape - from South America to continental Europe - ideal for dining, conversation, and dancing.
Lastly, we have a broad selection of Light English Music, showcasing hidden gems by composers such as Fred Hartley (Head of BBC Light Music in the 1950s), Eric Coates (BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs theme 'By The Sleepy Lagoon') and Ronald Binge ('Sailing By' the music you'll hear just before the shipping forecast).
The High Society Orchestra is devoted to bringing a sense of occasion and timeless elegance to your event. Every detail can be carefully tailored to suit you - from ensemble size and timings to a thoughtfully curated musical programme.
Our orchestra adapts beautifully to your venue, providing a stylish centrepiece that enhances rather than overwhelms. Specialising in refined, well-balanced performance, we create an atmosphere where guests can converse with ease while enjoying the gentle sophistication of live orchestral music.
With a nod to the golden age of glamour, we pride ourselves on delivering an experience that is both
intimate and memorable - leaving you and your guests immersed in the charm of live music from beginning to end.
About
OUR STORY
Tom’s grandfather, Bernard Bott, directed and conducted his own orchestra over many years, building up a large and unique library of music dating back to the 1930s.
Originally based in the Leicester area, he eventually settled in the South West of England from the 1950s where he performed regularly as a violinist and with his orchestra as part of public concert series.
They performed at a time when people regularly socialised, dined, and danced to live orchestras, and when popular Sunday afternoon light music concerts were a staple of British life.
Inheriting Bernard’s library of music inspired Tom to create his own orchestra, bringing the golden era of live music to modern audiences. In 2011, The High Society Orchestra was born, with its inaugural performance at The Lansdowne Club in Berkeley Square, London.
Soon after, the orchestra presented a season of afternoon teas in Marlborough, Wiltshire, culminating in a grand charity ball at the historic Marlborough Town Hall, featuring a professional dance display.
Since then, the orchestra has performed at venues including Blenheim Palace, One Whitehall Place, the Royal Kensington Garden Hotel, Charlton Park, and Burgh Island in Devon.
Bernard Bott & His Orchestra resident at Lewis's Restaurant, Leicester. Circa 1940s
As well as directing The High Society Orchestra, Tom regularly freelances with leading orchestras in London and throughout the UK, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, appearing on recordings and live broadcasts, as well as touring across Europe and internationally. He also collaborates with other orchestras and has recently helped curate and present a private event for supporters of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Between 2021 and 2023, he was a member of the Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra, where he directed their seven-piece string ensemble with piano. The ensemble primarily focused on light music and performed at engagements for members of the Royal Family, parliamentarians, and diplomats, as well as public concerts and recording sessions. His work is notably diverse, and since 2008 he has also been a member of The Bootleg Beatles touring show, performing internationally as part of the long-running production.
GET IN TOUCH
For bookings, enquiries, or collaborations, please complete the form below and we’ll be in touch shortly.
If you are considering live music for your event, or would value some initial guidance, we would be delighted to speak with you - informally and without obligation.
We recognise that every occasion is unique, and we work closely with each client to curate a bespoke musical experience of the highest standard.
If you prefer, you’re also very welcome to contact Tom directly by email or phone.
Get in touch
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