A musical weekend and ‘A Summer Night’s Delight’

Once again, ESME orchestra, big band and choir members came together for a magnificently memorable rehearsal weekend. From May 16-18, fifty members travelled to a new venue – Haus Sudetenland in Waldkraiburg – which provided a great setting for a weekend of music.

During the weekend, the singers picked up their repertoire for the summer concert, having appeared just one week before on stage performing their collection of 15 songs for spring. Orchestra and big band members concentrated on their chosen pieces for the upcoming summer concert.

In the orchestra, there was a chance for the string section to do some particularly intensive study with the help of a sax player on loan from the big band – namely, Sarah Ready, who also happens to be an accomplished violinist. The singers also benefited from a workshop on breathing and voice production led by professional opera singer Regina Schörg.

The success of the weekend was due in no small measure to our conductors, Eric Weddle (singers), Andi Partilla (orchestra) and Joe Noelliste (big band). We will be very sorry to lose Joe, who is going back to the US soon for his doctoral studies in church music.

As usual, there was also a chance for games and socializing during the weekend, with the aim of helping members of the various ensembles get to know each other a bit better. One innovation this time around was a game that lasted the entire weekend, the winner being the one with the most clothes pegs at the end, which created a certain amount of competitiveness.

A highlight of the weekend was a spontaneous singalong around the grand piano on Saturday evening. Pianist Tar Viturawong kept the hits coming into the wee hours of the morning.

We left on Sunday afternoon, tired but cheerful, and already looking forward to the next ESME Weekend Away in October 2014.

 

As a result of the hard work put in by conductors and performers during weekly rehearsals and at the ESME Weekend Away, preparations for the 2014 Summer Concert are going well.

‘A Summer Night’s Delight’
Saturday 12 July 2014
19:00
Carl-Orff-Saal, Gasteig

with the ESME Orchestra, Singers and Big Band and their respective conductors: Andreas Partilla, Eric Weddle and Joseph Noelliste

Tickets are available from München Ticket
and there are concessions for children and students

The programme will feature a selection of music from three continents and spanning four centuries including:

Eric Whitacre – Cloudburst
Leonard Bernstein- Make our Garden Grow
Moses Hogan – Elijah Rock

Hans Zimmer – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Astor Piazzolla – Libertango
Jean Sibelius – Karelia Suite

Jerry Jeff Walker – Mr Bojangles
Charles Trenet  – Beyond the Sea
Burton Lane – On A Clear Day (You can See Forever)

Photos by Daniel Plappert
Graphics by Jeannine Meier