By NICOLE VALICEK
AS a teen Sally Robertson fondly remembers watching the grandeur of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) never imagining one day she would be playing with them.
This year what she thought to be an impossible dream has become a reality.
On Saturday 1 June Sally and 138 amateur musicians from across Victoria and interstate will join forces with the MSO for Symphony in a Day, a larger-than-life performance of symphonic greats at the Melbourne Town Hall to wrap up MSO’s Education Week.
“The opportunity to play with the amazing musicians of the MSO, as well as other passionate amateurs, is truly the opportunity of a lifetime,” Sally said.
The Altona North musician said the opportunity has helped her re-discover her passion for music, one that had been put on hold for the past decade, even picking up the piccolo for the first time since high school.
“I picked it up and it was wonderful to find I could play it quite well … I’m really hoping I can live up to the standard on the day.”
Two years ago she started playing with a community orchestra, the Werribee Concert Band, as a way of getting back into performing.
“I was soon reminded that a large part of my passion for music is to be found in the joy of creating it with others.”
Sally will play two pieces as part of the orchestra, 2nd flute in Saint-Saens’ Bacchanale, and piccolo in Jupiter from Holst’s The Planets.
She has been rehearsing vigorously for the past two months admitting it’s the most she has played in years.
“The thing that excites me most is the opportunity to play with MSO and being part of such a grand sound and so many amazing instruments together playing wonderful pieces.”
