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Tenforu - Royal Albert Hall

The road to the Royal Albert Hall was a long and eventful one!

Those of us in Tenforu met once a week at Beds Saturday Morning Music School and under the watchful eye of Mrs John formed a group of five wind players and five strings to play decets together.

We entered the Music for Youth competition and took part in the first round at Wooton Upper School; after that we got through to play in Birmingham where unfortunately we suffered with some misbehaving instruments! After not receiving any prizes we assumed it was the last time we would all play together as Tenforu.

However we all received a phone call over the holidays informing us that we had in fact got through to play at the Royal Albert Hall. We were all ecstatic but realised it was going to be hard work as some of us were leaving to go to university and another was moving to Thailand for a year! In the autumn we managed to organise rehearsals when people could travel home and we managed to get a very talented viola player who stepped in last minute and performed like he had been with us from the beginning.

At last it was the 12th of November and we all met outside the Albert Hall, the day was exciting but busy with what seemed like thousands of musicians running to and fro practising and organising sound checks. Finally it was time to change and we were all excited and happy as we donned our smart black regalia with red scarves or bow ties. After being called we lined up outside and had a little panic when a chin rest was mislaid but after this had been fixed we all laughed and were ready to perform.

Standing on the stage waiting for the group before us to finish was intense. We were excited and apprehensive at the same time and looking around the group we were all smiling, waiting for the last chance to show what we could really do. After what seemed an age we had our cue and began. We played, I think, the best we've ever played it and enjoyed playing it too which made the occasion all the more special. After the applause we left the stage laughing and elated and either joined parents or promenaded for the rest of the concert.

Playing at the Albert Hall was one thing, but playing with so many talented other people was brilliant. You could really see how much music meant to everyone and could identify with them as their story was similar to ours. It was a night to remember and many thanks go to all those who helped us get there.

-- Tenforu

January 15, 2009 | Permalink | Comment