The North Downs Community Orchestra (NDCO) hosted its winter concert at the Bawtree Concert Hall at Limpsfield’s Hazelwood School. Conducted by Shona Fenion, the NDCO presented From Mozart To The Sound Of Music on Sunday, 2nd December 2018.
Repertoire and Players
As well as movements from Mozart’s 40th Symphony and Rossini’s Barber of Seville the concert included the famous tunes from The Sound of Music, and the James Bond and Star Wars films. Bearing in mind the recent tributes to those who lost their lives in the Great War, the NDCO played a haunting piece, The Banks of Green Willow, by George Butterworth. His famous work was premiered in 1914 with no less than Adrian Boult conducting his first professional concert. Two years later, having won the Military Cross for bravery, George Butterworth was killed in the Battle of the Somme, with no known grave.The Banks of Green Willow had several fine solo melodies that were played by orchestra members Harriet Leach (flute), Amelia Dyson and Tamsin Erwood (oboes), Libby Nichols (bassoon) and Dave Ellis and Melanie Lee (clarinet).
The North Downs Community Orchestra describes itself as ’a fun orchestra’ made up of nearly 40 local amateur musicians who just want to play their instruments, often after a long hiatus. There is no audition and more string players are needed at this time.The orchestra rehearses in Oxted and performs in Limpsfield, Oxted, Caterham. A smaller group – the North Downs Ensemble – also plays by invitation in schools and old folks homes.
Rest in peace, Kevin Black
Photos by the late Kevin Black show some members of the NDCO rehearsing for the winter concert. Kevin was a great supporter of the local music scene. He covered the orchestra's very first rehearsal on 23rd March 2016 and also our most recent concert above. We are grateful for his support and photographic talent - also for 'having a go with a violin' on Make Music Day UK 2017.