Hertfordshire Guitar Orchestra is a group composed of high standard amateur and professional guitarists. It was founded in 1993 by Tom Parsons to develop ideas he had for creating a unique sound by composing and arranging music to be performed by a large group that combined classical guitars with electric and bass guitars.
The orchestra developed rapidly into a regularly performing concert group with a surprisingly big sound and a wide-ranging repertoire spanning classical, rock and world music that made for a very listenable and highly entertaining concert programme. Currently, Tom is dividing his work into two parts. With H.G.O he is concentrating on developing new ideas and recording.
The Guitar Project, based at Watford School of Music and administrated by Hertfordshire Music Service and still directed by Tom, has now taken over performances. Entry level for The Guitar Project is now intermediate and upwards, but the musical policy and aspiration remain exactly the same as for the Hertfordshire Guitar Orchestra.
Tom is a very accomplished Guitar player and a great teacher. I have been playing Classic Guitar in his Watford Guitar Project (guitar orchestra) for the last 3 years and am now having private lessons on the Electric Guitar. The lessons are well structured and enjoyable. I only wish I had started earlier.
– Tim W
For enquiries about The Hertfordshire Guitar Orchestra, The Guitar Project or guitar lessons,
contact Tom Parsons on
01442 385776
