Accomplished Violinist Alex Laing Leads Orchestra Da Camera Workshop

Yesterday the Bablake Music department was thrilled to host its first really big orchestral day, in partnership with the Orchestra da Camera. Around 85 young people took part, with many coming from the Coventry Youth Orchestra as well as from Bablake, KHVIII and other local schools.

The day was conducted by Alex Laing, director of Lichfield's Darwin Ensemble Chamber Orchestra. He also conducts the NCO Easterlies Orchestra and we were pleased to have three of its members with us, Bablake cellos Anna White and Harry Scott-Burt (Junior School) as well as one of the viola section, another young Coventry musician.

The day's repertoire was mostly taken from the wonderful BBC '10 Pieces' project, which Mr Steve Cooper (Music) has been exploring in curricular lessons with our Junior School pupils.

Coaching was provided not only by Alex Laing, an accomplished violinist as well as conductor, but also Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt (formerCBSO violinist), Mr Steve Cooper (Bablake's brass teacher), Mr Tony Ayres (artistic director of OdaC), Miss Julie Robinson (OdaC's principal oboe as well as Bablake's oboe teacher) and Mr Peter Wilson (principal cello with OdaC  and cello teacher at both Bablake and KHVIII).

A performance at the end of the day was well attended, having been featured on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire's Marian McNamee show at lunchtime. The pieces performed, all learned in a packed day of rehearsals, were John Adams' 'Short Ride in a Fast Machine', Mussorgsky's 'Night on a Bare Mountain', Grieg's 'Hall of the Mountain King', 'Mars' from Holst's 'The Planets Suite' and the famous Radetsky March.

Mrs Scott-Burt (Head of Enrichment and Outreach co-ordinator) said: 'This was one of the largest Outreach events I have organised, and a really rewarding day to witness. I thoroughly enjoyed coaching my violins and violas, as well as watching Alex Laing in action with the children.

It was wonderful for our pupils to experience working in a huge orchestra at a high level and I'm really grateful to Orchestra da Camera's Tony Ayres for all his help and support with the day.'

To hear a brief recording from the morning rehearsal, please clickhere.