Our guest conductor for the workshop was Willem van der Vis from Melbourne. It was hard work and we attempted some challenging pieces, but it was totally absorbing and a great way to spend an evening and a day. We always end these workshops with an "open rehearsal" in front of an audience - not a performance as such, because the four works are still works-in-progress. We will probably play at least some of them at our end of year concert.
If you've ever been a little tempted to join a community orchestra, my advice would be to just jump in and do it! It's a wonderful, fun supportive way to enjoy making music with others and you might surprise yourself with what you can do! I play second oboe in our orchestra, but I'm also playing first violin with the "Piccolo Strings" which is a training orchestra - strings only. I've been learning violin for about a year and a half from a wonderful , positive teacher who also happens to be the usual conductor of our orchestra.
4 comments:
You're quite the busy bee! That sounds like it would be fun...too bad I don't play any instruments. :)
Wow, aren't you the talented one? It sounds like you're having a good time playing with the community orchestra.
What are you guys playing ? I have always wanted to to join a commnnity orchestra, but will have to wait until I have the time... who wants a musician who doesnt practice!
We played the overture to Don Giovanni (Mozart) Carmen Suite (Bizet)- the overture and all the intermezzos etc, Dance of the Tumblers (Rimsky-Korsakoff) and Flute Dance (can't remember). The Bizet was the most challenging, but the first oboe had a lot more action than I did! Since I joined the orchestra about five years ago, we are able to play much more difficult music than back then - and proper scores, not easier "arrangements". The difference is quite noticeable - now we can sight read through pieces that five years ago would have been hard for us.
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