michael1d ago
#Oxford #music ppl: come along and #PlayForFun with #Cowley #orchestra #tomorrow! No auditions, no performances, no commitment required. https://cowleyorchestra.weebly.com/dates.html All #OrchestralInstruments welcome. #violin #viola #cello #DoubleBass #flute #clarinet #oboe #bassoon #trumpet #cornet #horn #trombone #tuba why not try #conducting taking turns with others? Also, feel free to suggest a piece from our vast #MusicLibrary (>350 sets). #JoinIn #PlaySomeMusic #ClassicalMusic #Baroque thru to #FilmMusic
Dates

Rehearsals run on Wednesday evenings. Unless otherwise stated, rehearsals are at 7pm-9pm  in the “Leadership Room” at The Oxford Academy. ​ 7th January 14th January (Beecroft Theatre, The...

Cowley Orchestra
Show threadJulian Lam11h ago

Hi @[email protected]! I've seen a couple of your posts about the Cowley Orchestra. The play-through orchestra is an interesting approach compared to the traditional "membership" band/orchestra.

I'm certain I can guess the answer but I wanted to ask whether you found a lot of new membership that way?

I think community orchestras and community wind bands have the same challenges re: recruitment, and I was suggested "dust off the case" nights as a means to recruit. Your posts immediately came to mind! If anything we'd probably try it only a couple times a year, but it sounds like Cowley does this as a matter of course?

Show threadmichael
@julian Hi thanks for asking, yes we are trying to get a few more people to attend regularly. We are viable in that we can play the material in a recognisable form with an average of 12 people, but we would obviously sound more orchestral if we had over 20, hence the attempts to create excitement and FOMO with the special feature evenings which I aim to do once a term. They aren't pulling in huge numbers but for some people they have provided the motivation not to put it off.
2:32pmWeb
Show threadmichael10h ago
@julian Oxford obviously has a lot of people coming in and staying for a limited time only. We can accommodate those passing players very easily but also have to work constantly to replace them when they leave again ...