ECO festival record intact!

Youth orchestra at Exeter Cathedral, 9th July 2004

In a surprise development late in the summer term, an invitation came from the Exeter Festival organisers to take part in a concert at Exeter Cathedral on Friday 9th July. The main artistes booked for that evening were willing to delay their performance for 30 minutes, thus enabling us to perform a short programme of music.

After a quick consultation, it was decided that it would be a fantastic opportunity to preserve the OrchestraÍs record of attendance at the Summer Festival, which currently stands at 100%, and to allow EYO to take the stage for the evening due to the limited space available for performers and equipment. One quick rehearsal was all that stood between us and the general public who had paid serious money to come and see The Jocelyn Pook Ensemble.

Arriving at 6.15pm on the evening, a nervous but excited EYO assembled in the Chapter House to get ready. Instruments had already been set up, and as soon as Evensong was over the Orchestra managed to squeeze itself between the main stage and the front row of the audience for a quick rehearsal.

Concerns were expressed immediately about the cramped conditions for the players. Care would need to be taken by the players nearest to the audience in case they stabbed the people in the front row with their bows and trombone slides! The percussionists would have to crane their necks to see around the pulpit and floral displays to keep an eye on the beat from Richard!

However like true professionals the youngsters warmed up and nonchalantly played a few bars from one or two pieces before being ushered off stage to make way for the lighting crew to finish their preparations. An hour was then spent waiting for the start of the concert. Some performers elected to take advantage of the early evening sunshine sitting on the grass outside the Chapter House, where the CathedralÍs high imposing walls created a quiet, secluded haven of peace in the bustle of the city.

All too soon it was time to go on stage, and instruments were tuned up and carried in. Waiting behind the stage EYO could hear the buzz from the audience but it wasnÍt until they walked around into their places that they could see that The Cathedral was packed! This was easily going to be their biggest audience and they werenÍt familiar faces! The Lord Mayor who had been unable to come to the previous concert was sitting in the front row, bedecked in all her regalia, supported on either side by civic dignitaries, and the audience stretched all the way to the back of the Church.

The concert got underway with a welcome from the Cathedral Staff, and EYO began their performance. Enthusiastic clapping after the first piece encouraged nerves to disappear, and five more pieces followed, concluding with a spirited rendition of ïIn the Hall of the Mountain KingÍ.

In the brief interval that followed, all our equipment was whisked off the stage in a record five minutes! Mingling with the audience many positive comments were heard about the excellent experience it was for the children to play at such an occasion. We then all settled down to hear the main performers of the evening whose music and light show was an interesting and unusual experience for everyone.

Packing up at the end of the evening under the floodlit walls of the ancient building on a perfect warm July night we wondered how we were going to be up and ready for Sidmouth the next day, and we congratulated ourselves on the adaptability of the Orchestra and the ability of our players to be comfortable playing in front of formal VIPÍs one day followed by jolly holidaymakers in shorts and sunhats the next!