m f o Est. 2001 · Reg. Charity 1140302

The Midlands
Fretted Orchestra

Mandolins, banjos and guitars like you’ve never heard them. A 30-strong orchestra of instruments you won’t find anywhere else — celebrating 25 years in 2026.

25years in 2026
30+musicians
7–70+all ages
4concerts in 2026
About us

An orchestra unlike any other

The Midlands Fretted Orchestra — the full ensemble with their guitars, mandolins, mandolas and banjos
The orchestra, instruments and all.

Formed in 2001 by professional musician and musical director Danielle Saxon Reeves, the Midlands Fretted Orchestra brings together more than 30 dedicated musicians of every age, ability and style.

Our players range from children as young as seven to performers over seventy — seasoned professionals sitting side by side with people who picked up their instrument less than a year ago. What unites us is a shared passion for fretted instruments and the joy of making music together.

We bring together instruments not found in today’s orchestras to create a unique musical experience for players and audiences alike.

What we play

  • Mandolin
  • Banjo
  • Classical guitar
  • Acoustic guitar
  • Mandola
  • Bass guitar
  • Cello banjo

A rare combination of fretted strings you won’t hear anywhere else.

Danielle Saxon Reeves seated with her banjo
Our musical director

Danielle Saxon Reeves

A professional musician with a particular love of nineteenth-century fretted instruments — early romantic guitar, classical mandolin and classic fingerstyle banjo — Danielle has led the MFO from the very first rehearsal.

She studied with Craig Ogden and Mark Ashford and graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire in 2001, founding the Midlands Fretted Orchestra that September to bring back the ensemble playing of fretted instruments modelled on the great nineteenth-century orchestras.

As a performer she has played at the Royal Festival Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, the CBSO Centre, Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool and Bolivar Hall in London, on BBC radio and television, and at festivals from York Guitar Festival and Bath Banjo Festival to the Jane Austen Festival and St David’s Cathedral Festival.

Away from the orchestra she runs a private teaching practice, tutors at summer schools, leads her Friendly Folk for the Plucking Terrified workshops and directs the Gr8 Guitars classical guitar ensemble.

  • Early romantic guitar
  • Classical mandolin
  • Classic fingerstyle banjo
  • Birmingham Conservatoire
  • Teacher & workshop leader
Our music

From Holst to Hollywood

Our repertoire spans classical masterworks arranged for fretted instruments, film & TV themes, folk and popular favourites — something for every ear.

The Nutrocker Swing

The Midlands Fretted Orchestra

St Paul's Suite in C Major

Gustav Holst (Op. 29 No. 2), arr. C. Handley

  1. I. Jig
  2. II. Ostinato
  3. III. Intermezzo
  4. IV. Finale (Dargason)

Recordings are on their way.

Recorded at St Peter's Centre, Pedmore, 9 March 2019 — sound engineering by Joel Workman & Tatjana Radivoj.

Performances

Coming up in 2026

21 MAR

Coffee Concert

Saturday · 10:15am

St John the Baptist
High Street, Halesowen, B63 4AF

Suggested donation £5 on the door

On the door
09 MAY

Spring Concert

Saturday · 2:30pm

St Peter's Church
Church Road, Cradley, B63 2UL

Free — retiring collection for St Peter's Community Vision Project

On the door
04 JUL

Movie Music & Telly Tunes

Saturday · 3:00pm

St Peter's Parish Centre
Pedmore Lane, Pedmore, Stourbridge, DY9 0SW

£8 per ticket

Available via TicketSource, orchestra members, or at rehearsals

Tickets
12 DEC

MFO Christmas Celebration

Saturday · 7:30pm

Edward Marsh Centre, Kinver Sports & Community Association
Legion Drive, Kinver, DY7 6ET

£10 adult · under-16s free with a paying adult

Doors & bar open 7:00pm

Tickets
Join us

Pull up a chair — bring your instrument

📅 When we meet

Fortnightly on Wednesdays, 7:30–9:30pm, with a refreshment break in the middle. We take a breather over Easter and August.

📍 Where

St Peter’s Parish Hall
Pedmore Lane, Pedmore, Worcestershire, DY9 0SW.
Good disabled access & facilities, with parking on Pedmore Lane.

🎵 Who’s welcome

Absolutely everyone — no matter your age, experience or level of ability. If you love fretted instruments, there’s a seat for you.

Fancy it? Come along for a free taster session and a rehearsal.

Email us to come along