News from the road

The ACO2 tour has begun very successfully with enthusiastic audiences in Newcastle, Parramatta and Sale. The orchestra received rave reviews from their performance at Parramatta Riverside, with comments describing the concert as an “enchanting showcase of musical mastery” (Vanessa Lahey, Australian Stage). Musicians from ACO2 also relayed their expertise to the young players of Western Sydney and Sale, in two intensive workshops for talented local school students. Each workshop ended in a extraordinary performance, with amazing results achieved from just three hours of rehearsals and tutorials. These workshops are a fantastic way for the orchestra to meet some of the members of the community, and to share their knowledge during their visit.

A highlight of the tour so far has definitely been the stop off yesterday to Whittlesea Secondary College. The orchestra performed a short schools concert to students affected by the recent Victorian bush fires. With a small auditorium filled to the brim with students, so many of whom have lost loved ones, it was lovely to be able to bring a bit of music to the area, and to contribute in our own small way. We were all touched when one of the music teachers in the school told us with tears in his eyes of how wrapped the music class was, who had lost both students and teachers in the fires, to have heard such an amazing performance. We would also like to thank the Australian Children’s Music Foundation for making this visit possible.

With the weather sunny, if not a bit chilly in regional Victoria, the band has now landed in Echuca to perform the 4th of its 9 concerts at the Paramount Theatre. Our hotel is cosy and rustic and the historic port town of Echuca is a delightful place to spend the day. The musicians will have tutorials this morning and they are holding a techniques class this afternoon, in which all members of the orchestra will share their ideas, as many of them have recently studied with leading overseas performers.

Vicki Stanley, Education and Emerging Artists Manager