ORCHESTRA STRIKE UP FOR FIRST TIME SINCE LOCKDOWN
HILLINGDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA HELD A SOCIALLY DISTANCED REHEARSAL IN RUISLIP
LIKE so many groups nationwide, Hillingdon Philharmonic Orchestra was forced to cancel all planned rehearsals and concerts once lockdown began.
The group last performed on March 8 at the Winston Churchill Theatre in Ruislip and has since been silent for the longest period in its 34-year history.
However, on Sunday September 20, and in full accordance with government guidelines, the orchestra was able to finally meet again for the very first time at Ickenham’s United Reformed Church. They held a socially distanced Restart Day with the simple aim of having fun playing music together once more, without the pressure of a concert.
This was a meeting like no other in the orchestra’s history though, due to the Covid-secure rules and restrictions that it was essential the group adhered to.
The strings, who normally share music with their desk partner were instead required to play separately, with up to two metres required between all the musicians playing at the event.
This meant that the Orchestra stretched far back in the church, with the wind and brass sections some distance away from the strings.
Although good for distancing, this created some challenges at the outset in playing in-time together, while the orchestra adapted to the slightly delayed sound across the venue!
Face masks were required both for arrival and departure, or at any time a member needed to move around the building, and group refreshment breaks were no longer allowed due to the rule of six for socialising.
Despite all these changes, the orchestra still had a great afternoon playing through some wonderful classical favourites. Works performed included Mozart’s Overture to the Magic Flute, MacCunn’s Land of the Mountain and the Flood, and Beethoven’s Symphony No.3, the Eroica.
Lydia Holland, chair of the orchestra said of the Restart Day: “It was so good to meet again and make some live music.
“The church did a brilliant job of making the venue Covid-secure so we could all feel safe. We played Beethoven and Mozart – wonderful music for raising the spirits!”
The orchestra hopes to be able to host another similar event soon, but this will of course be subject to the government’s restrictions continuing to allow for this to happen.