Sunday 6th December marked Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra’s last rehearsal of the Autumn term and of 2020: a very strange year but one which has brought several surprising benefits for ASO as well.
Tenor Breakout Room with Jane Smith from Phoenix (centre bottom) enjoying working with Ben Lunn (right, third from top).
Sunday was really exciting as it was the first rehearsal of the beautiful new piece specially composed as a gift, for ASO by our Making Music, Adopted Music Creator, Ben Lunn who himself was present. We also welcomed five members of Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra from Market Harborough to join our rehearsal which was great fun.
Phoenix, also members of Making Music, discovered our website while searching for suitably arranged music scores for a sax orchestra. They were interested to see how we organised our Zoom rehearsals, so we provided parts for them and they joined us in the breakout room sectional rehearsals - potentially new repertoire for them and maybe future work for Ben too!
Jonathan from Phoenix brought his contrabass to show us. Laughter ensued when Richard suggested that our first baritone, Ben Armstrong, should save up for one. The consternation on Ben's father’s face was very funny - probably not worth asking Santa for one, Ben!
Ben Lunn’s composition is lovely. Everyone enjoyed it, and it is also sufficiently challenging to stretch us as an orchestra. Richard, our MD, and Ben shared the task of popping into breakout rooms with observations and advice.
These Zoom rehearsals have been going better than anyone could have expected and will provide an enhancement in future when 'normal' rehearsals resume.
We very much enjoyed Ben's piece and meeting the Phoenix five. We hope to do more with them in the future, either virtually or in reality!
Altogether, a very satisfactory day which produced lots of smiling faces.
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