Band Members Play With Cross Border Orchestra
by Trevor Johnston
Ireland's newest arts venue, "The Helix", was the place. The South Ulster Youth Orchestra and The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland were appearing. Four members of the Drogheda Brass Band, with the Cross Border Orchestra, would be there too, but until they walked onstage for that Friday night rehearsal they had no idea what they were in for.
Practice beforehand had been routine. But routine is no word for the sight that greets the performers at the Mahony Hall, The Helix's world-class 1250 seater concert venue. "Magnificent" is not sufficient to describe it.
The 1250 seater Mahony Hall, biggest venue in The Helix.
With this stunning sight, Francis Daly, Yvonne Cunningham, Trevor Johnston on trumpet and Brian Murphy on trombone knew that they would be playing with not one, but two, full orchestras in one of Ireland's best concert halls to what would surely be a sell-out crowd.
Both groups practised "1812 Overture" and "Lord of the Dance" together as that was how the show would end. The Mahony Hall's stage is large, but is was filled as were the balconies above. The power of sound was amazing. We left; late and exhausted but thrilled.
Saturday afternoon's rehearsal with the orchestra came. Gearoid Grant, resident conductor, arrived and got straight to work assembling the night's programme. Each and every section, from tubas to flutes, highly focused. No passage needed playing twice, everybody in tune: tonight's show would be good, no question!
Prior to the show was a flurry of activity backstage. Everybody dressing, tuning, polishing instruments. Plenty of room backstage and this show needed it all. There was energy in the air, of the kind only seen when a large group of young eager talented people are about to make something special.
In front of the curtain, the audience started to fill the hall. In the course of the evening they would hear many different types of music, "Mission Impossible", "The Planets", and even "Grease", to name but a few!
It's not every week that those in a brass band get a chance to play in a world-class venue. Rarely do many get a chance to play with an orchestra and expand their musical palette and experience, but four members of the Drogheda Brass Band got that chance on Saturday 3rd May 2003.
We made the most of it: nerves went out the window and, as Brian Murphy said, we simply enjoyed the experience.