My mother, as this Blog had no clue about, is in TWO orchestras: The Wyre Forest Symphony (amateur) Orchestra and The West Midlands Light Orchestra. It is the second that I intend to mention today.
The WMLO (as it's called by Us In The Know) is a truly brilliant thing. People travel for miles around to listen to their concerts - that feature "songs from the golden age of music" - and the hall they rent out from The Stone Manor Hotel (situated near Kidderminster) is always packed. Mother is part of the string section; playing a viola.
They've already made a CD - imagine! My mother playing in an orchestra that has its very own official CD! - and now it seems David Etheridge, the orchestra's conductor, has decided to up the ante. Because now, you see; it has been advertised on a radio programme.
Yes! The West Midlands Light Orchestra is now famous (well, in Hereford and Worcestershire, anyway)! There was an actual whole segment within the show with David talking about the band and a few bits and pieces from the CD being played.
How cool is that?
Mother was so thrilled.
"The WMLO" is on the radio!" she sang: "That piece is from the CD! I played in that! I'm on the radio!"
Well, you can imagine how chuffed we both were, can't you?
Funnily enough, I actually heard a snippet of the show as I arrived for my taster volunteer session at the Sense Shop yesterday, but as I only heard a few seconds (the very beginning of the segment, as it turned out) before being led upstairs, I mistook it for a few-second advert regarding the upcoming concert this Sunday evening. Which is grand enough in itself, actually, now I come to think about it. But anyway, I thought 'hey, cool! That's the WMLO advertising on local radio! How did Dave swing that! Rock on!' And then I forgot all about it, till today; when mother asked me to check her email account for her* and we found two messages from David.
The first, sent about a week ago, was all about landing a slot on the BBC Hereford and Worcestershire Radio Show. The second, sent yesterday evening, was a link to the show itself.
And here it is:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programme
The bit with David in is about 18 minutes long, between 31.24 and 49 minutes into the show, and that particular show itself will probably remain active on the BBC Hereford and Worcester site for a few days or so, so listen to it quick, all (one) of you!
Ooh, and while we're on the subject, if you want to learn more about the WMLO, how about you read about it at source: http://www.wmlo.org.uk/ . There's even a picture of my mum in it! Hold on...
...There she is! **
She is last on the right, the nearest one to the camera with her viola sticking out at an angle. Don't mind her frowny expression; the picture was taken during the recording session for the CD and she's concentrating hard.
Anyway, pretty good, eh?
Whoops, got to go. There's only about 45 minutes till we are due to leave for The Grandpapa's and the dog (who I might add has already had TWO walks so far today. Smallish ones, I'll grant you, but still) is staring at me, meaningfully. So! I must go and find my faithful blue waterproof, pull on my boots and face the mini snow storm. Wish me luck.
Tara!
Alice
xxx
* my mother's hate-hate relationship with computers is a long, long story for another time.
** if you ever meet her, don't for the love of God tell her that I have put her picture on here. The internet freaks her out something chronic. She's peeved enough with the idea - when she allows herself to think about it which thankfully isn't often - of being on the WMLO website and therefore mentioned on the World Wide Web at all, let alone being talked about on O.F.G.A.H.T by me, and If she found out I'd posted a photo - and a rather unflattering one of her at that - on this Blog...well. I don't know precisely what she would do, but I do know that it wouldn't be good. So let this be our secret.
No comments:
Post a Comment