THE ART OF CONDUCTING
How does it feel to take up the baton to lead, direct and encourage your fellow musicians?
The opportunity to conduct some of the school’ s best musicians in the Chamber Orchestra was a true honour. On 24 March, Eve Ward and I conducted the first and third movements respectively of Franz Schubert’ s Symphony no 5 in B flat major during the orchestral Music at Sevenoaks concert.
We both had done conducting to some extent beforehand, though to varying degrees. Eve had conducted several ensembles, mainly choral, whereas I had been taught some of the theories of conducting, but had never really tried on actual musicians, let alone performed in front of a huge crowd. Conducting is a specific skill within music, and though I have lots of experience of being part of an orchestra, leading, directing and encouraging one was novel and exciting.
We had been rehearsing this piece since all the way back in September, and huge amounts of dedication went into it, from ourselves, to the musicians, to
Mr Dyer, who was our supervisor, conducting coach and cellist. Massive thanks to him for helping us get through this process to the performance. All the musicians steadily improved throughout the six months for which we rehearsed, and I significantly improved in my conducting. I wish I had recorded our first session to see what shameful technique I was employing back then!
On the evening of the concert, I was very nervous before going on stage, as I had been watching in the wings for the first movement. Eve’ s conducting was very impressive, so I was under pressure. However, I got through it with a performance of which I was very proud, and my orchestra could likewise be very proud of themselves. This was an amazing experience, and I am very grateful to Mr Dyer and the orchestra, and my co-conductor Eve, for helping me explore the art of conducting!
Paul Taylor, Lower Sixth
50 MUSIC REVIEW