homePrevious Courses
October 2003
Royal College of Music, London
Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, ending up in a matter of weeks in London. That is an itinerary that one might be forgiven for assuming to be the schedule of a well-established professional touring orchestra. But of course it represents the latest chapter in the activities of the English Schools' Orchestra.
In 2003, London was the venue for yet another exciting and highly accomplished end-of-course concert on November 1st at the Royal College of Music, which is the alma mater of so many of this country's fine musicians and indeed not unknown to a few members of the orchestra who study there in the Junior Department on Saturdays throughout the year.
A mere four days previously, the seventy members of this year's orchestra met in the superb music centre of the Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School at Elstree in Hertfordshire and set about the task of tackling a challenging programme. It was interesting to note that about half of the players had been on the August Australian tour, a further 25% had been on previous ESO courses and the remainder were newcomers. If the latter were slightly apprehensive, they were soon reassured, as all were new to the music.
The first full rehearsal was, as always, totally exploratory and players' reactions seemed to vary between quiet confidence and humorous desperation but nevertheless the hard graft of learning the notes slowly began.
In the ESO we are privileged to have the expertise of an inspiring team of highly professional instrumental tutors that has hardly changed in personnel since the first course some nine years ago. It is quite extraordinary how after one or two intense section rehearsals the trickiest technical corners in the music seem to have been turned or at least to hold fewer terrors, and in the full rehearsals that are strategically slipped in between, real progress can be seen and heard.
This year's music (Brahms: Haydn Variations, Bliss: Dances from Checkmate, and Schumann: Symphony No. 4) was all pulled apart and put back together again and by the close of day three, when we said farewell to the instrumental tutors, the time was ripe for a concerted effort on the musical interpretation. Satisfying as it is to conquer technical demands that at the outset seem impossible, unearthing the real colour and musical interpretation behind the notes is the really exciting part for many performers and ESO members are no exception.
The final day of the course is always very tiring as last details are attended to but also very rewarding as all the performances takes shape musically and are finely honed ready for the concert the following day.
The 2003 course was another happy one. The members who were residential enjoyed the extra camaraderie engendered at the SPEC Centre in St. Albans under the guidance of Alan Storer. All enjoyed the splendid meals and facilities provided at Haberdashers but above all there was a real feeling of a team working towards (and achieving) the common goal of excellent performances of fine music in a stimulating concert much enjoyed by an appreciative audience.
In 2004, the English Schools' Orchestra celebrates its 10th birthday. Exciting plans are being discussed. Young musicians are taught to keep ears and eyes open, it might be worthwhile doing just that!
Alan Taylor,
Course Director, English Schools Orchestra and Choir