Tchaikovsky and Dvorak – repertoire session

OK, so Fabio Capello’s resignation has just been announced, so I won’t be making the headlines with my own particular exciting times, but there’s lots going on right now, and – given my prowess on Football Manager (“the most fun you can have with a database”) – I’m sure that my to-do list will shortly include “call the FA back about the job”.

In the real world, the new SE London orchestra with which I’m involved in founding is well and truly off the ground. It’s worrying/exciting/nerve-wracking, all at the same time – will anyone actually be interested in joining (other than dozens of flautists and clarinetists), will we be pissing off other groups, will we ever agree on when to hold rehearsals? Tricky.

We’re delighted, however, that things are off to a flying start with more people than we dared dream contacting us within the first two weeks. And plenty of them have strings on their instruments.

And, in other news, I am actually playing the trombone this week! Take cover. It’s a pleasure to be in the orchestra for the world premiere performances of Thelma by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor – his ‘lost’ opera, being produced by Surrey Opera at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. You can read Tom Service’s piece on the Guardian website for more info – he was at the dress rehearsal on Monday. The premiere is Thursday 9 February, with further performances on Friday and Saturday.

And it’s back to the wonderful City of London Symphonic Winds on Sunday, preparing for our 26 February concert. I know I pick the programmes, but why oh why did I think that Charles Ives would be fun? (OK, it will be fun, I know, but tricky for me!) Maybe less time on Football Manager, more with the score…

A new orchestra for SE London

Posted on 23 January 2012 by davidsmith

I’m thrilled to be part of a brand new project to launch an orchestra in a ‘pocket’ of SE London which is currently not served by anyone.

This yet-unnamed orchestra will launch in April 2012, with the intention of serving musicians and communities in and around the areas of Beckenham, Bellingham, Catford, Crystal Palace, Elmers End, Forest Hill, Norwood, Penge and Sydenham.

We are actively looking to recruit the first members!

Are you interested? The orchestra will first get together for a repertoire day that will end with an informal ‘open rehearsal’/play-through. This will be at a venue in or around Beckenham, in mid-April 2012. There will be some great music, combined with lunch together and the all-important social at the end of the day!

Interested? So what do you need to do now?

The first thing to do is simply to send us an email (seorchestra@gmail.com) to register your interest – tell us what instrument(s) you play, and anything else relevant, e.g. your experience, why you’re interested etc. As soon as we have fixed the date, venue and schedule, we’ll get back to you with confirmation. But we do need you to get in touch with us soon, because we won’t be able to go ahead if we don’t hear from enough people.
Please also help us to spread the word about the new orchestra with any/all players in your contacts book – send them the link to this page. Word of mouth is so important – and even if it’s not for someone in particular, if you ask them to send it on to their contacts too, then the word gets around even more. Thank you!

If you can help publicise the website – on Facebook, Twitter, emailing friends – then please do so: http://seorchestra.wordpress.com/

I will let you know how we get on!