Sarah Richardson on how her childhood musical instrument became a gateway to joining Enfield Community Orchestra

My journey to playing the bassoon began as a child of eleven, many years ago.

At school in Waltham Forest, I was offered a choice of learning trumpet, trombone, or bassoon. I had never seen a bassoon before. When my teacher arrived with a suitcase and began assembling one for me, I couldn’t believe the size of it – four feet tall – it came up to my shoulder!

As soon as I could play a few notes, I was invited to join the borough’s junior wind band, which met on a Saturday morning. I remember I had been taught to play standing up and didn’t realise you could sit down to play!

The other children were amazed when I assembled my “rocket launcher” (as my brother called it) and stood at the back of the band. I progressed through intermediate and then senior wind band and orchestra. It was a wonderful time for me with lots of opportunities.

I played in youth festivals at the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall. I toured Germany as part of senior wind band. Then, as they say, life happened. I stopped playing, and those days became a pleasant memory.

Fast forward 40 years to 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic. Like everyone else, I was stuck at home with time on my hands. One day, I searched on Ebay for second-hand bassoons, and one came up. My daughters thought it was some impulse buy!

I found sheet music from my teens and started practising. However, there was only so much playing I could do on my own. The bassoon is an orchestral instrument, and I needed an orchestra.

Enfield Community Orchestra looked friendly and inclusive – there was no audition or minimum grade, and offered a free trial period. I went to my first rehearsal in January 2022 and was warmly welcomed. It felt amazing to be playing in an orchestra again, and I loved the range of music – classical, film and theatre, with concerts once a term.

The orchestra goes from strength to strength. We have 35 members, ranging in age from people in their twenties to their seventies. We vote on which music to play and there are social events organised by a board of trustees.

We have recently moved to St Stephen’s Church in Bush Hill Park, where we practise on Thursday evenings from 7.45pm. We currently have space for brass and string players and would benefit from another bassoonist and percussionist. If you are interested, please get in touch!

Everyone is also welcome to join us for our winter concert at St Stephen’s in Village Road on Thursday, 4th December.

Find out more about joining Enfield Community Orchestra:
Email [email protected]
Visit enfieldcommunityorchestra.co.uk

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