What have you done recently that’s the same but different?

The other week I was asked to be a substitute Ensemble Manager for the Uproar Tour, Son of a Chamber Orchestra. This evening of work also included original compositions from Welsh composers. Now, John Adams isn’t for everyone and I know that the term Post-Minimalism in some musical circles will either incite excitement or shivers. Thankfully, I appreciate the craft of music and fantastic musicians so it made no difference.

Before I continue I am grateful to both Ruth and Michael for the opportunity to tell this story in the first place.

I love music, and I love events, and I love seeing people succeed. Thankfully through experience I’m able to link these things together. Working with Pure West Radio and putting events is a great learning curve on how to run any events – especially because of the broadcast element to a radio broadcast.

Back to the orchestra of 20 or so musicians. They require their space, their music, their energy, if you will, to be just right for a performance. The essential role for the Ensemble Manager is to make the team have everything they need to perform.

I’m never to turn down an opportunity and the calendar allowed it so when was asked to substitute I didn’t even hesitate to say yes!

It started with a trip to Merthyr Tydfil to shadow and view their performance at Theatr Soar. Coincidentally I had been there the night before leading Choirs For Good Merthyr Tydfil so that was one less thing to worry about. The following night I would be flying solo as Ensemble Manager.

I arrived a little later than I would have liked but daytime duties called. Interestingly their was a recording taking place. Lots of microphone, lots of cables and just one man and his laptop; quite remarkable.

Walking into Theatr Soar was amazing. There are very few spectacles in a room that can make me go “wow” but seeing an orchestra being set out ready to create sound and movement always gets to me. The instruments lie limp but you can still feel that they’re waiting to be brought to life. I find it captivating. As a drum player, the desire to to hit everything in the percussion section is high!

Being a shadow is a funny thing. You have zero responsibility but you’re still dressed in black and if you’re asked a question you better know the answer and do what is needed! No pressure.

I love music and I know that orchestral music is not for everyone – although I’m sure everyone loves the Jurassic Park or any other movie soundtrack and I think you will agree that you like orchestral music. On a side note, if ever you get to see movie soundtracks performed live by a full orchestra – Do it!

Back on track. You may recall above I said that this show was based on original pieces of work, other than Son of a Chamber Orchestra, which was played after the interval, all other pieces were original. Which is amazing, but could cause some difficulty for those who wanted to hear something they know. It’s like going to your favourite artists concert and having a great time enjoying their back catalogue and then they decide to play their new stuff that hasn’t even been streamed online yet. Great if you absolutely love everything they do like me doting on Blink 182 for example, but chamber music, original chamber music requires an openness to new styles and sounds.

The pieces were excellent. Two of them set to visuals and a soundscape too giving the pieces a different dimension. One of them completely in-keeping with the shapes on the screen to the sounds of the instruments. A peculiar clever piece.

Arguably, my favourite piece was Wind Sweepers. The sounds and the build and the imagery created in my head were amazing! That is the wonder of music, we’re free to create any image we want to evoke in our heads. Wind Sweepers did that to me with excellent swells.

The last piece was inspiring, and included footage from the last week of Treweryn village. ‘Cofiwch Dreweryn’ I’m sure you have seen on walls around Wales. The village that was flooded for a reservoir to supply the needs of people in the North West of England primarily. Video’s and music combined can evoke a lot of emotion; even when paired with with relatively mundane, but incredibly moving footage of the last time the village was inhabited above ground.

The get out is never fun, but as a drummer and a member of the radio team that puts on events, it’s all part of the job and something I can just get on with. Theatr Soar definitely isn’t designed for removing lots of percussion equipment.

One last sweep, my car loaded with equipment for the following day and off home.

The next performance would be in Rhosygilwen, which is amazing in itself. A remote wedding venue to Cilgerran and a whole orchestra coming down to entertain, and me, ensemble manager with no Ruth to shadow. Could I do it?

I arrived in good time. Reported to the manager on the day. Had a tour of the room and went about setting up the venue. One problem in a room where there is obvious stage, where do you put the music stands out? First part of impressing the orchestra and I couldn’t even set a stand out properly. Percussion, who sit at the back of the orchestra, also couldn’t set up, which meant we didn’t know at what depth the rest of the seated sections would be in relation to the audience and lastly, in this particular performance we needed clearance for a rear throw projector and screen and the conductor had the tech guy and was en route… Musicians started arriving.

Thankfully, issues will always arise when you’re performing in a new remote space – and believe me, Rhosygilwen is remote – but you just have to stay calm and plan what you’re going to do the moment everyone arrives so there is no wasted time from that point on.

Conductor and tech arrive. Orientation decided. Screen goes up. Percussion move in. Stands and seats start being set up. Rehearsals start on time. Boom! We did have to configure what lighting we had around the musicians but a small price to pay for the delay in getting started.

Despite the remote location there was a lovely crowd and the evening went on without a hitch. I was even able to source a cushion for one of the orchestra with thanks to the location staff.

It was the last performance of the whole tour and I felt a lovely sense of pride that I was able to just fall into the mould of the Ensemble Manager with thanks to Ruth and Michael for showing me the ropes and trusting me to get things done and just be present. A real privilege.

The point I’m making is that even though you may have never done something before and it maybe something that you feel you don’t belong, there is no reason why you can’t lean on similar experiences to expand what you can do. I always default to place myself in situations that are new to me and therefore make me more able to survive and even thrive in brand new experience. I have mentioned the radio here already – I’m a broadcaster, entertainer and all rounder – all from saying yes to new things and reaching out for them.

What can you reach out for? Who in your network can provide you with new experiences? What can you offer them? Ponder this and let me know what you end up doing. I’d love to know!