In 2020, a group of recent Old Boys from the Class of 2018 are looking to start a community orchestra for members of the ONU to take part in. The ONU Symphony Orchestra will be a group open to all old boys with musical skill, past or present, and will provide a group for old boys who have followed a life in the arts past their schooling at Newington or those old boys who are looking to reconnect with their musical skills which were started at the College.

We are looking to present 3 programs throughout 2020 all performed in the College’s Centenary Hall. These programs will require a short term commitment in the lead up to each performance from all members of the orchestra with a number of rehearsals taking place at Newington in the weeks leading up to the concerts. Exact scheduling is still to come as it will depend on the final numbers received however members should expect around 2 or 3, 2 hour rehearsals and the 1-2 hour concert on top of some personal practice to learn the music so that rehearsals can be spent on ensemble work and crafting the music so it is ready for performance. The repertoire will be confirmed and communicated with the group once numbers have been finalised.

As stated above, the group is open to all old boys with past involvement in music or those who have pursued music post-school and are looking to reconnect with their music making at the college. In 2020, we will accept applications from old boys who graduated in or before the Class of 2019. So, if you are interested in performing masterworks by composers such as Mozart, Haydn, Sibelius and Strauss in an orchestral setting back at the college, please download and complete the expressions of interest form here and return by 4 December to ONUARTS@newington.nsw.edu.au At this stage, we are particularly looking for string and brass players to help fill out the orchestra. So if you think this is something you would like to be involved in or you know other old boys who would be keen to take part, please fill out the attached form and encourage them to do so as well, we can’t pull this off without your support!

REHEARSAL PROCESS AND EXPECTATIONS.

As this is a community orchestra, there are some expectations that you must abide by as part of your involvement:
•You will be expected to attend all rehearsals for the program you are taking part in. If you cannot make these rehearsals, you must give two weeks notice of the rehearsals you will miss. Of the program rehearsals, we expect that you will attend 80% of the rehearsals. If this is not possible for you, please email ??? and we will try to find an option that works for both yourself and the production team otherwise we will ask that you reconsider your involvement in that program. This will differ with each program. There are of course other programs to be involved in throughout the year so if one ends up not being possible, we would love for you to be involved in the other(s).

•You will be expected to have prepared your part so that rehearsal time is not wasted learning notes.Parts will be allocated and sent out 3 weeks before the first rehearsal. Program info will be available well before that so if you wish to get ahead on learning your part, please head to imslp.org to find your part! (links will be provided for each piece).

•Rehearsals will run for 2 hours (sometimes slightly longer depending on the repertoire). There will be a break at the halfway point. Sometimes you will not be required for the full duration of rehearsal depending on the repertoire we are playing. This information will be sent out in the rehearsal packet at the start of the rehearsal period however, it may be subject to change depending on how the rehearsals go.

•This project will be a collaborative process in which the orchestra will work through the repertoire with the conductor (for the respective program) and we are open to suggestions and opinions on the repertoire.