Schools' Tour 2013

We hit the road bright and early Monday morning, full of enthusiasm and waiting for the caffeine to take effect.

Sinfonia Schools' Tour 2013

Sandra - piano and violin,
Hazel - Cor Anglais and Oboe,
Sam - Double Bass,
Luke - Trombone and Didgeridoo,
Natasha - Clarinet and Violin,
Paul - Keyboard,
Me - Violin and Viola

It all started with Paul and Sam having issues with the rental vehicle (had to hire one as Sam's double bass didn't fit in any of the small cars we own).  You can kind see why...

10 minutes late and we launched.

Programme:
Bach Brandenburg No 2 (with violins, double bass, clarinet, oboe, keyboard and trombone - as you do)
A shaker melody (featuring Cor Anglais, clarinet and viola) called A Gift to be Simple (Lord of the Dance)
Summer from 4 Seasons - the storm for 2 violins, viola and double bass
Star Wars
Demonstration of a didgeridoo
Beethoven Symphony No 5, 1st movement - where the double bass starts its big solo)
Elephant from Carnival of the Animals - on trombone with audience participation
Trepak from the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky for piano duet with instrumental augmentation

16 Schools, 15 performances, 6 Sinfonia players, 5 days...

Schools
Concord
Abbotsford
East Taieri
Ravensbourne
Pine Hill
Waitati
Brockville
Balaclava
St Joseph's
Opoho
North East Valley
Sacred Heart
St Clair
Fairfield
Carisbrook
Port Chalmers

The tour wasn't without incident!  Day 1 we had a bow case moment.  Sam and Paul in the rental car took off to Abbotsford School with Sam's bow case on top of the car.  We (in the car behind) commented that the roof rack seemed to be a little odd as they drove past.  Down the hill and around the corner (on the entrance to the Southern Motorway) Luke said he saw something on the road that looked like a bow case.  It clicked!  The weird roof rack...

We pulled over (as much as you can) and Luke went running back to retrieve it...phew!  No wheels, just two cars over the top.  Thankfully the contents were intact!

We had a brilliant week.  By the end we were exhausted (and keen to try each other's instruments.

Hazel was keen to try them all...

Lunch breaks in various locations - Blueskin Nurseries, Mornington Park, St Clair beach, Port Chalmers was brilliant.  Coffee, swings and amazing food.

We were treated to some very talented musicians - especially on our last day.  The Haka at Carisbrook, the Marimba Orchestra at Port Chalmers were magical moments :)  

I was happy to be back in jeans this morning in the office, but looking forward to next year already!