Emma Cons Hall hosts last concert before refurbishment

Last Thursday, the Emma Cons Hall held its last concert – The Morley Chamber Orchestra: Viennese Elegance before the Emma Conns Hall closed for a major refurbishment and modernisation starting this week.

It was a great performance which featured the finest work of Vienna’s most iconic composers. 

The evening drew to a close 65 years of continuous service for a Hall which has been home to Morley’s many classical orchestras, choirs, dance performers and jazz bands since its opening in 1958.

The set list

Thursday’s concert opened with Cytheren Quadrille by Johann Strauss Jr., a lively and spirited dance piece that epitomises the charm and energy of the Viennese ballroom. Next, the evening continued with Mozart’s Concert Rondo in D Major, K. 382, a brilliant and exuberant work that showcases the composer’s genius.

The concert concluded with Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 6 in C Major. With its sweeping melodies and lush orchestration, Schubert’s symphony offered a perfect finale to an evening of grace.

Bushra Iqbal, Vice Principal (Curriculum Impact) and Centre Principal, Waterloo Centre for Adult Education attended the night and said: 

“It was a real treat to attend evening of Viennese Elegance with the Morley Chamber Orchestra, conducted by the esteemed Charles Peebles. This concert was a testament to the extraordinary talent and dedication of our musicians, particularly the exceptional pianist Eleni Mavromoustaki. It was a wonderful way to mark the closure and refurbishment of the Emma Cons Hall and celebrate the rich musical heritage of the college, which dates back over 100 years. It was a night of grace, grandeur, and musical brilliance.”

Back in 1958, Morley hosted concerts to celebrate the new with concerts by composers including Christoph Von Gluck and August Strindberg marking the opening of a wonderful new performance space.

After the 2025 refurbishment

Now the hall will remain closed until the autumn. The project will sensitively modernise and upgrade the Hall’s acoustics, heating system and infrastructure and improve accessibility to the Emma Cons and the adjoining Johnny Harris Studio Theatre. In autumn 2025 we look forward to reopening to an improved and modernised Emma Cons Hall!

You can find out more about the renovation project here.