EASTER CONCERT 2005

South Street Baptist Church has become a favourite venue for our performances. Sadly the Rusalen van had "died" earlier in the term, so we were very grateful when the Kirby family came to our aid with their van for transporting the instruments from Bishop Blackall to the Church. Loading the vehicle proved to be a test of ingenuity though, as the bass drum on its new stand wouldn't fit inside the van. Many helpful suggestions later, the drum was detached from the stand, and Max gave us a demonstration of his ropework as he lashed the stand to the roofrack of his family's car!

By 5.30pm everything was in place at the Church, and excited ECO players began to arrive for the pre-concert rehearsal. While the Orchestra was rehearsing, a loyal band of helpers prepared the refreshments for the Interval under the direction of Julie Upton. Julie's daughter had been in the Orchestra a few years previously and Julie is now an active member of the "Friends of ECO". By 6.45pm the rehearsal was over and the players swarmed backstage to gobble up their packed teas, nobly supervised by yet more willing volunteer parents, to whom we are all indebted for their good humour and fortitude in carrying out this task!

The audience began to arrive in good time, and the Church was soon filled with the buzz of pre-concert conversation. At 7.30pm applause and cheers greeted Eppie and Richard as they made their entrance, and the Concert was underway. The programme contained a wonderful selection of pieces, each designed to feature the various sections of the Orchestra.

As Richard explained to the audience, many of the players had been struck down by the "dreaded lurgy", reducing in particular the cello and viola sections to one player each. However, Bethany and Allanah coped like true professionals. The soloists were amazing and astounded us with their skill and virtuosity. Everyone was craning their necks to find out which mysterious instruments were being played in the clarinet ensemble's piece: "Swanning Around", and we were all impressed to hear the children's skill on the whoopie cushions, as well as Richard's solos on the swannie whistle!

At the end of the evening all the instruments were packed away and sent off into store, care of the Pauley family, to whom we are most grateful, so that we wouldn't have to trouble the Bishop Blackall caretaker for our Easter holiday outing to the Met Office. Once again ECO had put on a super concert with a lovely audience.