www.elysinfonia.co.uk

Volume 2, Issue 2 July 2010

Forthcoming Events

TOUCHABLE DREAMS

FREE Recital for Friends. Fri 10 Sept 2010, 7.30pm Ely Methodist Church,

Chapel Street, Ely CB6 1AD.

Tickets for non FES available on the door, £5, or free on joining FES 2010

-2011.

TRAVELLERS’ TALES Sat 2 Oct 2010, 7.30pm

Ely Cathedral. Rossini, Berlioz, Gershwin. Premium: £20 incl comp programme.

Other tickets: £17.50, £12.50, £10 (reserved), £5 (unreserved). Concessions £9 in £12.50 seats. Tickets from: Ely Cathedral Box

Office (Tel 01353 660349) or https://tickets.elycathedral.org/ Also Burrows Bookshop, 9 High

Street Passage, Ely (01353 669759).

Friends password: Tuba

WORKSHOP DAY

Sun 7 Nov 2010, 10am-4.30pm Tchaikovsky Capriccio italien and Stravinsky Firebird Suite.

Details on the website

Christmas Charity Concert Wed 22 Dec 2010 , 7.30pm

Ely Cathedral. Conductor: Paul Trepte.

Inside this issue:

1. Northern Lights, Mar 2010.

-Free Recital for Friends.

2. Spotlight on Christina

Everson, Leader.

3. Roz Chalmers, Chair of ES.

-HMS Pinafore.

-Nelson Mass, Haydn.

4. Music in the Park,

Chippenham.

FES Secretary: Charlotte Dean

charlotte-dean@talktalk.net

Luminous Northern Lights

A remarkably chilly evening of March 8th

in Ely Cathedral was highly appropriate

for the theme of this concert.

However, the composers in this Nordic

programme, did not need any physical assistance

in their portrayal of national moods and harsh

landscapes in what we could quickly recognise as

an identifiably northern soundscape.

The popular Peer Gynt Suite no 1

opened the concert. Its varied movements

provided a wide range of moods from the

peaceful Norwegian countryside portrayed in

Morning Song, the beautifully elegiac pianissimo

of the Death of Aase, the sensuous Eastern

promise of Anitra‟s Dance, to the increasing

frenzy of the Hall of the Mountain King.

Matthew Trusler (right, credit Sheila Rock) was

the young soloist for the centrepiece of the

concert, the Sibelius Violin Concerto. His

1711 Stradivarius instrument had a wonderfully sweet tone, and he handled the demanding first

movement, the poignant slow movement and the

exuberant finale with virtuosic facility.

There was an opportunity for Friends to meet

Matthew in the SW transept at the interval, but

there was some confusion as to the location; we

apologise to any Friends who were disappointed

to miss him.

After the interval came the exciting Fifth

Symphony of the Danish Carl Nielsen. Written 1922, it combined late 19th cent

romanticism and works of later 20th cent

composers, such as Shostakovich. The struggle

between light and dark, violence and humanity

was brought out by conductor Steve

Bingham, who raised the orchestra to new

levels in this challenging and rewarding work.

Music from Bach to Piazolla, Pachabel, Chick

Corea and many others; words by Ted Hughes,

Elizabeth Bishop, Pullman, Shakespeare et al.

This will an evening in which Steve Bingham and

Jeremy Harmer (above) join forces again to give

the Friends a FREE RECITAL in which they

explore the many paradoxes of love implied by

the title “Touchable Dreams” (from Carol Ann

Duffy‟s You). Methodist Church, Chapel St,

Ely CB6 1AD on Fri Sept 10th, 7.30pm.

A Touch of Love

Page 2 Volume 2, Issue 2

Spotlight on …. Christina Everson, Leader

Other talents

Although she showed such proficiency on both violin and viola,

Christina has also explored other career paths. Aged 7, she was

the youngest member by three years of the county swimming

team, and thoughts of Olympic stardom filled her young mind. At

one stage in secondary school she wanted to be a vet. And after

the eight-year period of music teaching she had a re-think and

pursued a career in medicine. For this she impressively studied

Access to Medicine at W. Anglia while working at Addenbrookes

Hospital as a healthcare assistant. However, no place was

available at medical school, and it

was while working at the

Colchester Institute that she

crossed paths again with Steve

Bingham. She began violin lessons

with him, and this led to his

recommendation of her for the

new post of Leader of ES.

Leadership qualities

Christina‟s dedication is apparent

in many practical ways: she travels

the 80 miles each way from

Colchester to Ely for all

rehearsals, fitting them into a very

busy schedule with local ensembles and orchestras as well as

peripatetic teaching and (since 2006) leading the Scintillo Quartet.

She prepares works ahead of rehearsals, sorts bowings, takes

string sectionals and provides a great deal of cheerful

encouragement to all players. She has a good sense of humour,

is very approachable, modest and committed to raising

standards (with great tact) – and she more than repays her

retainer fee in providing a reliably professional lead to the

orchestra.

‘The Child is father to the Man’

Ten-year-old Christina once arrived rather late for a

Cambridge Holiday Orchestra concert, and was given

enthusiastic applause as she made her embarrassed solo

entrance through the orchestra to her seat with the violas.

However, her childhood mortification has been

superseded by adult gratification; it turned out to be a sign

of things to come.

W hat makes for a successful leader of an orchestra?

Technical ability is obviously a given, but is there

an extra something that justifies the walking on alone to

special applause at the start and the receiving of the

conductor‟s handshake on behalf of the orchestra at the

end of concerts?

Early days

Christina was spotted early by a teacher at Bourn Primary

School who made up in dynamism for what she lacked in

inches. At age 8 Christina was

in the orchestra and by 9 she

was playing viola in her first

string quartet, both activities

organised by Miss Thomson.

As a young teenager,

Christina gained invaluable

experience with the

Cambridge Holiday

Orchestra, and with both

Cambridge Youth Orchestra

and Cambs County Youth

Orchestra, the latter winning

the Novello Award at the

Edinburgh Fringe during her time there. Several years

later she was to meet Steve Bingham in the Cambridge

Orchestra where she led the viola section.

At Comberton Village College Christina starred in

the Telemann Viola Concerto, before gaining a 6th form

music scholarship to Oakham School where she received

coaching from the Alberni String Quartet. Her quartet

were finalists in the Chamber Music Competition for

Schools at St John‟s, Smith Square, playing the

Shostakovich 8th String Quartet (which was to feature in

its orchestral version in her first concert as Leader of ES

in March 2007, where she also played the magical and

evocative violin solo in Scheherazade so memorably).

Progressing to the Royal Northern College of

Music, she took part in a tour in the South of France and

experienced playing at the Royal Albert Hall, as well as

participating in all that the college offered on home

territory. After returning to the RNCM to gain her PGCE,

Christina taught music in schools until 2005.

Concert Reviews

Have YOU an opinion, from just a comment to 250 words, on any of our concerts?

If so, Charlotte Dean would be delighted to hear from you (charlotte-dean @talktalk.net).

Page 3 Volume 2 Issue 2

ROZ CHALMERS, Chair of Ely Sinfonia

P rogressing from Acting

Chair, following the

retirement of Robin Moore (Apr

„09), Roz Chalmers was appointed

Chair in Jan 2010. This came as

no surprise to anyone who knows

her. Apart from her musical and

teaching talents, she has been a

long-serving governor and only

slightly more recently Chair of

Governors at her local primary

school, and is able to use these

skills to maintain focus and to

steer the lengthy ES Committee

meetings with a natural authority.

Musical genes

Her parents were very musical

and Roz was taken to the local

orchestra‟s weekly rehearsals

while still in her carry-cot. Music

continued to be all around her as

a child. Her two brothers and

two sisters all learned musical

instruments, so the logistics of

practising must have been

considerable! Like all small girls,

Roz dreamed of various

glamorous careers but in real life

she won a music scholarship at a

boarding school where she led

the orchestra, and she progressed

to read History and Education at

York University. However, she

could not keep away from the

exciting music department there.

Teaching career

A PGCE and a career in primary

school teaching followed. She has

lived in Cambridgeshire since

getting married, and of course her

children all learned instruments

and, following parental example,

they continue to play as adults.

Links with ES

Back in 1999, Roz was involved

at the very outset with Ely

Sinfonia, which started as a group

of musical friends recognising a

local need. She remembers the

early days when the fledgling

orchestra was originally linked

with Britten Sinfonia, receiving

coaching and the services of a

conductor until able, with

continued grants from ADeC, to

stand on its own feet.

Now, as well as leading the

second violins, other orchestral

commitments for Roz include

several local orchestras and

regular p lay ing with the

Cambridge Philharmonic.

Vision

“I want Ely to be proud of

their local orchestra,” she says.

“I want them to feel a

sense of ownership, to support it

and enjoy the contribution we can

make, enriching lives and

providing opportunities for all to

make music.”

Her words give a clear indication

of why she is such good news for

the committee and ES.

H. M. S Pinafore

As part of the Eel weekend, Ely Cathedral was the venue for a „Come and Sing‟ production of the ever-

popular Gilbert and Sullivan H.M.S.Pinafore. Director and Conductor was the ebullient Ian McMillan, and

Steve Bingham on this occasion took the lead position with the first violins to ensure a strong top line.

The nautical derivation of „nave‟ was appropriate for the purposes of the evening, with the chorus of

sailors along with the sisters, cousins and aunts and the two brave volunteers in minor roles all being provided

by the audience. Everyone was given an adapted score and union jack flag, and prizes were awarded for the

best costumes in the audience. The orchestra also entered into the spirit of the occasion by exchanging their

usual dress code of black for naval-inspired costumes. After the warm-up practise in the first half, the soloists

from D‟Oyly Carte, the ENO and London Operetta donned their magnificent costumes and performed dance

routines and patter in addition to their singing to give added professional colour to the evening. The G&S

magic proved infectious and we all left feeling the happier for it.

The Nelson Mass A very different event for a smaller number of players from Ely Sinfonia was the provision of an orchestra for

Haydn‟s Nelson Mass. It was sung at the Sunday morning Eucharist in Ely cathedral and contributed to the St

Etheldreda Festival taking place during the weekend of 19th and 20th June. Ely Sinfonia enjoys a special

relationship with Ely Cathedral, and was happy to provide extra musical colour for this important celebration.

Page 4 Volume 2, Issue 2

Music in the Park, Chippenham

DON’T FORGET! 2010-11 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL DUE before 30th SEPTEMBER.

S aturday 12 June proved a fine day for music-making and picnicking in the beautiful grounds of Chippenham Park, all profits from

which went to the restoration fund of St Margaret‟s Church, Chippenham. For all the previous expertise of the local organisers, it

is still a huge undertaking. The whole event went very successfully, from the popular classical works to the „last night of the proms‟

traditional music of Henry Wood and Elgar, all rounded off with fireworks at the end. Apart from Steve Bingham‟s shirt, special mention

must be made of the singers, Andrew de Silva (bass), Elizabeth Drury (soprano), Robert Cross (counter tenor), the choir of St Margaret‟s

Church, and also the cellist in the Jenkins Benedictus, the astonishingly virtuosic 12-year-old Victoria Nicoll. Victoria, a pupil at Kings

College School, Cambridge, won the Marguerite Swann prize of the ABRSM for her Grade 8 last year and among other awards was the

winner of this year‟s Cambridge Young Musician Competition. The orchestra hopes to play with her again in the future.

Official sashes

Thanks to the workmanship and generosity of Jill MacRae, Friends volunteers now have official sashes to wear at ES events (see below).

In the „team colours‟ of blue and gold, they allow the Friends helping as programme sellers, stewards etc, to be easily identified. We have

also recently bought a display board for our stall. Gradually we are acquiring a more professional look to the Friends organisation.

Charlotte Dean, Friends Secretary, wishes to express her gratitude also to Janet and Terry South, Audrey Swift and Colin and Jill MacRae

who helped with the Friends‟ stall at Chippenham and with distributing leaflets to the assembled crowds.

Clockwise from left: It’s that time in the evening; FES Terry and Janet South, Audrey Swift, Colin and Jill MacRae; Victoria Nicoll;

audience assembling, with Chippenham Hall behind them; (middle, far R) soloists Andrew de Silva, Robert Cross and Elizabeth Drury.