Cobweb News

During the half term break, why not consider signing up for our residential at Sedbergh? A huge amount of people have signed up, but there are still a few beds free and space for day visitors. If you’ve never been before, have a serious think about it. The reason so many people go is that it’s such fun! More information can be found here.
Please check the website to see if your groups or events are going ahead in case of bad weather – wherever possible we will contact people but the website is a good port of call.

Finally, more and more people are successfully teaming up and car-sharing to events, so thank you! If you never have before, do consider it. It’s environmentally friendly, and you’ll get to know other Cobweb players better.

In this weeks Cobweb News:
Cobweb Orchestra Study Day in Morpeth: Elgar Cello Concerto with Gemma Kost
Cobweb Chamber Orchestra – a message from Andy

 

Cobweb Orchestra Study Day: Elgar Cello Concerto with Gemma Kost

Sunday 1st March, 2-6pm
St George’s Church, Bridge Street,
Morpeth,
Northumberland,
NE61 1PD

Members £12.50, Non Members £17.00

Where are all the flutes, oboes, horns and trumpets?
Join Andy Jackson and Gemma Kost (cello) for a study day on Elgar’s Cello Concerto, as well as other Elgar works  throughout the afternoon. We look forward to visit the new Morpeth group venue and hope many of you can join us to explore a much loved work and composer with the amazing Gemma Kost. We have a great orchestra forming, but all players still welcome.

At the church, there is an adjacent public car park. Alternative car parking is available underneath the Morrison’s store – not the shopper car park but the long stay car park signed and accessed off Staithes Lane.

To enrol online please click here
To download a paper copy please click here

Cobweb Chamber Orchestra – a message from Andy Jackson:

Many Cobweb News readers will have heard of the Cobweb Chamber Orchestra. Over 80 of you have played in it and others have attended concerts given by it, but others might know little about the CCO, so here is a brief description.

It is one of several offshoots of Cobwebs (such as the Cabaret Ensemble, the Baroque Ensemble and several chamber groups), which meet at times outside the regular weekend programme of study days, concerts and residentials. As the name implies, it is smaller than most versions of the Cobweb Orchestra and consists of a slimmed down string section, two each of wind and brass (except for trombones) and a percussionist. All wind and brass play one to a part and have to be able to take the occasional pressure of being, in effect, soloists.

The CCO started life in June 2013 as a residential weekend in Blackton Grange – an idyllic converted farmhouse in upper Teesdale. Most of the 28 players who attended that initial weekend are still involved, but a few have moved on for various reasons and been replaced by other Cobweb players, which is one reason why so many people have been involved over the last six and a half years. The other reason is that players cannot always attend rehearsals or concerts, in which case others are asked to stand in. So, although the core membership is fairly fixed, we do welcome other players from time to time.
If you are interested in playing in the Chamber Orchestra, please get in touch with me (andy.jackson0@talk21.com) and we can have a chat about it. Because the string section is larger than the wind, there are more frequent opportunities for violins and violas to get involved than for flutes or horns, but I will add your name to the list of those who can be asked.

Being part of the CCO is not hugely time consuming. It usually gives two concerts per year and also takes occasional small scale bookings which would not be suitable for the big version of Cobwebs. In addition, there are usually two repertoire development rehearsals per year, and the June residential weekend in a remote Teesdale farmhouse is still a core part of what makes it work.

I’ll look forward to hearing from you if you think this is the sort of challenge you would enjoy.

Posted by Tracy Reed