"On tour" to Newton St. Cyres, June 2005

It was June 22nd when the orchestra went to Newton St. Cyres, to take part in the Expressive Arts Week at Newton St. Cyres Primary School (where Lucy, the sax, goes to school). Several of the members of the orchestra were there, including Sam and Danny (trumpets), Marcus (violin), Allannah (viola), Aydan and Michael (clarinets), Jack (tuba), and Lucy (sax).

Antonia introduced the orchestra, and each member talked about why they joined and about their instrument. Then we played a bit to show what the instruments sound like, all except Michael, who was too embarrassed. We did it first for Keystage 1 and then separately for Key Stage 2 children. Some of the Key Stage 2 children tried playing the instruments. They all enjoyed it and a lot of them said they were going to come to the concert. Most of the children are learning an instrument and might join the orchestra!

We all went to our house, Pump Cottage, via the school path and Sam got attacked by a blackberry bramble. We arrived and had chocolate biscuits and sandwiches. Then we changed into concert uniform and went down to the village hall. In the village hall we encountered a slight problem. The hall was tiny! We put part of the orchestra on the stage and the rest on to the floor in front. It didn't leave all too much space for the audience!

By about 6.45 the hall was already full and people were standing up. It was very large audience for such a small hall. All in all there were over a hundred people at the concert! A lot of people said it was a good concert (though I'm not too sure if Richard agreed with them!). Some of the highlights of the concert were a baby joining in with singing (or yelling), Eswen Nicholls and Charlie Richards skating into the hall on inline skates (lovely marks on the floor!) and a lovely clarinet wail into the silence of Russian Fantasy.

After the Concert most of the orchestra members came back to Pump Cottage and we had a lovely party/barbeque, chucking about the anti-boy ball, mixing up people's names and so on, while the Parents got on with the serious business of drinking wine. Although Mum complained that the orchestra members didn't eat enough sausages, and I had to eat them for a week! I really think we should do it again, so if you could help me persuade my Mum, it would be great!

Lucy Harrison-Prentice