On Sunday 11th June Elstree Mozart Players performed their Summer Concert at All Saints Church, which heralded the opening of Elstree and Borehamwood’s Civic Festival 2023.
Cllr. Rebecca Chalice, the Mayor of Elstree & Borehamwood welcomed the audience to the concert.
Cllr Chalice was joined by the Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr Richard Butler, who represented the new mayor of Hertsmere Cllr. Chris Gray.
The concert featured a wide variety of music and included several solo performances from members of the orchestra.
The concert opened with a rousing rendition of Rossini’s Overture II, ‘Signor Brushino’ which was skilfully executed by the orchestra, under the direction of Derek Holland.
Next the orchestra accompanied Barry Soloman, on Cor Anglais and Dylan Lahner on trumpet, in a performance of Quiet City, for Cor Anglais and Trumpet.
Then the orchestra, consisting of over 30 musicians from across the area performed Waltz Citrine, and the Concert March HRH The Countess of Wessex, two pieces from the pen of Peter Wilson, the orchestra’s resident composer.
Before the interval, we were treated to a masterclass on the Cello with a performance of Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major, performed by the orchestra principal cellist Juliet Maclean. Her performance received a standing ovation in what was a faultless performance of the work.
After the internal the orchestra’s principal Clarinettist, Stephen Randall enchanted the audience with a performance of Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet concerto No. 2 in Eb Major, receiving a rapturous applause from the over sixty strong audience in attendance.
To close the concert the orchestra performed Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A ‘The Italian’ to round off a wonderful evening of music making.
Conductor Derek Holland, who with Pat Strack and Andrew Grady founded Elstree Mozart Players was overwhelmed with the outstanding performance of both the orchestra and soloists that performed during the evening’s concert, commenting ‘That he was so pleased to be able to present such a high-quality concert for the townsfolk and to raise the curtain on this year’s Civic Festival’.
The concert raised £200.00 for Woodcock Hill Village Green, a local community charitable organisation that is trying to safeguard a much-loved area of the town from being developed.
At the close of the concert Cllr. Chalice added her vote of thanks for all those had made the evening possible.
This included the churchwarden Pam Kubica, for allowing the use of the church for the evening’s concert, Hazel McAuliffe, Pat Strack, for providing the refreshments; the front of house team which included Cllr. John Graham, Cllr. Sandra Parnell, Andrew & Erika Grady, plus members of the Studio’s Rotary Club, Raymond Shamash, and Sam Covill.
Cllr. Butler then presented some flowers to Juliet Maclean thanking her for the inspirational solo she gave as part of the evenings concert.
The next concert from Elstree Mozart Players is on Saturday 7th October. The orchestra will be presenting, in collaboration with The Rotary Club of the Studios of Elstree and Borehamwood a charity concert, in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.
The concert will be given at Allum Manor & Hall, Elstree at 7.30pm, and features Glinka Russia and Ludmilla Overture; Pomp & Circumstance March no 1, by Elgar.
Performances of Henry VIII Suite by Sir Arthur Sullivan, and Eric Coates Flight will be performed, both works to be conducted by Guest Conductor Andrew Penny MBE.
The concert also includes a performance of York Bowes Violin Concerto, featuring soloist Peter Busserau, with the Finale for the concert being Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. It’s a concert not to be missed.
Tickets cost £15.00 with £12.00 concessions, being available from the 1st September 2023
If anyone requiring more information about, or interested in becoming a Patron of the orchestra then please contact either:
Pat Strack on 020 8386 3151 or Andrew Grady on 07802 736628
or E-mail: elstreemozartplayers@outlook.com