Concert weekend

Earlier this year I finally auditioned for the Southern Sinfonia - a semi-professional orchestra in Dunedin.  It is the orchestra I work for part time as the Artistic Assistant (I get to call the local players and find people to fill the gaps).

The day before Easter weekend, as I seem to be a sucker for punishment I was busy teaching and preparing for the audition that evening.  I am not a fan of auditions, never have been.  I find that no matter how much preparation I do, everything reverts back to the basics when I play.  "Just don't drop the bow...do a nice bow hold" I can hear the little voice in my head mutter.

Anyway... did the audition and now on the list.

My first concert was an International with Maestro Tchivzhel playing Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, Tiempo as soloist for the Ravel G major piano concerto and Verdi La Forza del Destino Overture.  Brilliant programme - just a little stressful.  Didn't help that the same weekend was the Chamber Music Competition which I was also running.  That was June.

This month is the Matinee series of concerts.  A much lighter programme of Bach Orchestral Suite #4, Haydn Cello Concerto in C and Mozart's Jupiter Symphony with conductor Hamish McKeich and soloist Ashley Brown.

The matinee series has two concerts - Saturday evening at 5pm and Sunday afternoon at 3pm.  The idea behind this is that people have the opportunity to go out for dinner after the Saturday concert, and the Sunday performance is wonderful for children to attend (or those who want a nice warm evening at home in front of the fire).

The only downside for the players is that we have an entire weekend full of concerts.  Preparing each day, unwinding after each one, not to mention the playing of two full length concerts.   However, we wouldn't be there if we didn't enjoy it :)

So, here I am on a Saturday evening after the first performance, still in concert dress (with slippers) thinking about the next day and what that will bring.

Hope you can make it to tomorrow's performance.  I hear it is 90% full, so still a chance to grab a ticket and enjoy some lovely music.