SUE HADLEY PLAYDAYS
ORCHESTRAL WORKSHOPS
The Playday team
Sue Hadley
PLAYDAY FOUNDER
After taking up the cello aged 58, Sue Hadley joined the Learning Orchestra where she discovered the joys of playing classical music. In 1996 Sue took it upon herself to book a room in the Primrose Hill Community Centre and gathered together a professional conductor and a bunch of her string-playing pals. Together, they celebrated her violinist friend Vicky’s 50th birthday by playing through Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3.
It was such a success this turned into a regular string orchestra, and so Sue Hadley Strings was born. In 2005 Sue expanded the offering to include wind players and this quickly evolved from a string orchestra into the full orchestra we know today.
Since then, Sue has also created spin-off groups such as Chilled Strings (a small chamber strings group) and Cello Love (yearly weekend sessions for cellists only). Visit our Links page to learn more about these groups and other related orchestras.
Born in 1938, Sue trained as a nurse and went on to become a professional Nanny and worked for some high-profile families. Now retired, effervescent Sue is a pillar of the community in her residence of Chalk Farm, London.
Angela Draper
PLAYDAY ADMINISTRATOR
Sue is supported by her friend and trumpet player, Angela. A regular Playdayer herself, Angela helps ensure Playdays run smoothly. From registering players, collecting music and liaising with our conductors, Angela is Sue’s right-hand woman.
Matilda Sacco
PLAYDAYS LEADER
Matilda Sacco is an Italian/Scottish violinist currently freelancing in London. She studied at the Royal College of Music where she grew her passion for different genres of music including opera, contemporary and film music. Recently she has been playing with Orpheus Sinfonia and the European Union Youth Orchestra, but has also been a past member of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra, the Berlin Opera Academy and NYOGB. She regularly performs with her new music ensemble, Standard Issue, and enjoys involvement in music education and community projects. She hopes to work with professional orchestras in the UK and abroad and travel the globe through touring.