Sue – Flute

It's hard to believe, but I've been playing with the Chiltern Edge Orchestra now for almost fifteen years! I started playing the flute when I was ten years old, and loved the opportunities it gave me to play in youth orchestra and bands. I was never a fan of practicing at home by myself , and eventually scraped up to Grade 8ish standard. I was never good or dedicated enough to be selected for University orchestras and the like, but dusted my flute off at regular intervals for college orchestras and ensemble groups. 

When I moved to the Reading area for my work as a Research Chemist, I was introduced to the orchestra by a colleague. It was exactly what I needed; a group of friendly people playing a varied range of music somewhere locally. With a hectic work-life, it's important that I don't feel pressurised to put in hours of practice. Instead, the orchestra offers the chance for some quality 'me' time. Getting lost in the complexities and twitterings of the first flute part is a perfect way to clear my mind of lifes' hassles, and get some inside knowledge of some beautiful pieces of music.

Ron – Cello

The uniqueness of the orchestra is due to its educational basis, learning technically and musically through playing in consort with other like-minded people, a wide range of compositions and then being ‘assessed’ in performance by an audience. Importantly, I have never heard of any ‘put-downs’ which can severely discourage amateurs even to the point of their giving up playing. It is sad to see the almost un-bridgeable dichotomy between ‘classical’ and ‘popular’ music dividing in turn social/age groups. Our orchestra provides the challenge of playing an instrument in an orchestra to everyone.

Edmund –  French Horn

During my wartime boyhood, instrumental tuition was impossible, but I learned sight reading in a little village school in Worcester and then taught myself the recorder at age 10 – years before it was taught in schools. At grammar school, I was desperate to join the orchestra and I forced my way in as second percussionist until I could play the violin well enough. At exam times, Gilbert & Sullivan won over revision, as, in those egalitarian times, one was only awarded an ungraded GCE pass and the pass mark was 40 or 50 per cent.

After University (Bacteriology and post-graduate research), things languished until at age 47, a big band trumpeter friend said, “Try my trumpet. I think you can do it.” He was stunned when I purchased my French horn and began teaching myself. About six months later, I went to Stevenage Town Band and told them I played the ‘horn’. I was given a tenor horn and practised like mad for the next few weeks.

18 months later, in 1985, we moved to Sonning Common and I read about the Orchestra in the SC Magazine, “Explore the classics. No auditions.” At the opening practice, they saw the shape of my case and said, “Have you come to join us?” My sensation in the practice was wonderful – my debut on French horn and I was playing in a Mozart piano concerto! I also joined Pangbourne Silver Band (tenor horn, 2nd cornet) and sing/play (bass recorder, euphonium, horn) in music at St Michael’s RC Church, SC. One never ceases learning about music, as there is so much and the Orchestra has introduced me to lyricism and Englishness in music. My favourite achievement: setting the Orchestra’s recording of Dvorak’s 6th Symphony in D to videorecordings of scenic journeys in the Thames Valley and central Wales .

Simon - Double Bass

I am a 49 year old director of an oil exploration consultancy company.  I started playing the double bass six years ago after a dream about playing bass in a blues band. I found myself a double bass via the internet and was pointed to a children’s bass teacher.  Despite having no previous musical experience, after six months of lessons I saw an advertisement in the Sonning Common village magazine for the Chiltern Edge Orchestra and, with an attitude of “how hard can it be?”, went to the first rehearsal.  Even though I discovered that Rank Beginner would have been an overstatement of my ability, I received a warm welcome and was introduced to my double bass partner who still puts up with me today.   

I realized then that I had taken up something that would take me years to master but that would give me huge enjoyment.

With no audition required to join, the members of the orchestra are very non-judgemental. It is a group of similarly minded people playing some great music and making a great noise.  
---- I still haven’t played in a blues band. 

Cath – Violin

I started having violin lessons when I was 9, and carried on until leaving for university to study German. After working as an IT project Manager for Sainsburys for 10 years and then taking some time off to be with the children, it was only when taking my eldest daughter (now 13) to her Saturday morning orchestra and hearing them tune up, that I had the urge to get my violin out again. I decided that lessons would help, and after a year, my teacher suggested joining an orchestra. Chiltern Edge was the obvious choice as it was local, and with the support of my parents as frequent babysitters, I have now been going to Chiltern Edge for just over two years. I enjoy the camaraderie amongst the violins, especially when faced with tricky passages, and the supportive atmosphere. My sightreading and confidence have improved, (though unfortunately not my counting as yet), and I have assembled a string quartet with some friends from the orchestra and elsewhere. The violin and orchestra help me feel that I have an identity that isn't just mother and wife, but fit well around the demands of work and home.