Last issue, I had the pleasure of interviewing the UEA Symphony Orchestra ahead of their spring concert, “Roots and Dances.”  Following on from the interview, Stuart Dunlop, Director of Music at UEA, offered me a free ticket to the show. I simply could not refuse, having been so intrigued by the passion radiating from violinist Heather Pirie, violist Amelia Fox and Stuart himself during our conversation. Therefore, on the evening of the 21st of March I made my way to the St Peter Mancroft Church, a temporary venue for the orchestra as they await the refurbishment of St Andrew’s Hall. Despite finding themselves in unfamiliar territory, the UEA Symphony Orchestra performed at an incredibly high level of expertise and gave their audience an unforgettable evening of music.

The event proved itself popular. Despite being early myself, the pews filled up fast, with many individuals eyeing the orchestral setup with excitement. The clock struck 7pm and Stuart appeared, prompting a silence from both his orchestra and the audience. Within seconds, the first few notes of Florence Price’s “The Oak” were played, building up a delicate ambiguity that already had its audience engrossed. The orchestra encapsulated the tone of this symphonic poem perfectly, tackling complex crescendos and diminuendos with ease. The piece was met by a large round of applause at the end, proving itself to be the perfect opening number for the night.

Following on from Price’s “The Oak” was Duke Ellington’s “The River,” a ballet suite depicting the concept of spiritual rebirth. What struck me about this piece was how individual each movement was. From the smooth, swerving notes in “Meander” to the bubbly, fast-paced excitement of “Giggling Rapids,” there was an undeniable difficulty to the suite. However, the UEA Symphony Orchestra had me picturing this river every step of the way. Their ability to make me envisage such a vivid scene through their music emphasises their acute attention to musical detail, and therefore shows how talented this group of young musicians are.

Concluding the evening was none other than Leonard Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances” from West Side Story. My favourite moments from this included the string solos during “Somewhere” that were played with a beautiful fragility, and the rambunctious energy attributed to “Mambo.” However, the best part about watching this piece being performed was seeing the smiles of so many orchestra members loving what they do. If you’re looking for community here at UEA, consider joining this joyous and talented group of people!

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