Frances Barrett, leader of the violas in the Dulwich Symphony Orchestra writes…
“I’m out playing music two or three nights a week these days. It all started when I joined the Dulwich Symphony Orchestra several years ago. My viola had been languishing in a corner for a couple of years – well, I’d had no reason to get it out – but a friend who played violin asked me along and that was it – Tuesday night became DSO night.
It’s not just the music I enjoy, although we’ve played a huge variety, some of it far from the usual amateur orchestra fare. The members are a really friendly bunch – a great mix who look out for each other. People move around in the sections and that helps us get to know each other better. Despite all the concentrating rehearsals really are fun, from the gentle rivalry of finding the most unusual raffle prize to the occasional hilarious musical gaff. There are four doctors in the orchestra, but despite the stress no one has needed their professional assistance in a rehearsal to date!
Frances Barrett
Rehearsals, depending on your instrument, can mean playing most of the time, or sitting waiting and counting, hoping you’re in the right place! We can sound quite shaky to start of with until we work out how the music should go and find time in the week to practise. We’ve got an assistant conductor now and I find that just as I’m beginning to flag, in the second half of the two hour rehearsal, she comes on and puts more energy into us. The standard of the orchestra has risen noticeably in the last few years.
But it’s the concert day we’re all aiming for. There’s more work on the day with the fetching and carrying that the members take turns with, then we rehearse for three hours, have a short break and we’re on! Suddenly the concert seems so short, but the audience’s applause makes it all worth while.
It’s great to be back playing again, and the reason I’m back and playing such a variety of music is all because of the DSO.
PS the next concert is on Nov 28 in All Saints Church, Rosendale Road. The programme is the wonderful Berlioz Harold in Italy, Brahms Academic Festival Overture and Haydn London Symphony (no 104). More information about the orchestra is on our website
