COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

A Chester-based community Orchestra is offering keen musicians the opportunity to start the new year with a new hobby and the chance to hone musical skills alongside other like-minded players.

The Jan Modelski Community Orchestra, founded in 2001 by Conductor and Musical Director Jan Modelski is currently based in the village of Barrow near Chester and was set up with the aim of enabling musicians of all ages and abilities to participate in a performing amateur orchestra. 

The Orchestra has now finally restarted normal rehearsals following a long break owing to the Covid 19 pandemic. Members had been looking forward to the restart for over a year, during which time, a number of online quizzes and performers’ events were organised to help keep people in touch.

As well as seeing old friends once again, members of the Chester based Community Orchestra are also looking forward to welcoming new members, particularly those people who perhaps used lockdown to learn to play an instrument or dug a long-forgotten instrument out of the cupboard and rediscovered the joy of making music and want a new challenge for the new year.

Long term member Rob Ashworth said “Saturday morning used to be one of the highlights of my week and I have really missed it. I am so pleased to be able to meet up with old friends and to make some new ones as we begin 2022."

Originally from London, Jan has lived in the Chester & North Wales areas for over 20 years and is a full-time professional musician with many years’ experience as a conductor and performer, gaining an ever-increasing reputation in the orchestral music scene in the North West. He is currently Founder, Conductor and Musical Director of the Chester Big Band, the Jan Modelski Pop Orchestra, the Jan Modelski Big Band and the Wirral Community Orchestra.

Speaking about the benefits of joining the Orchestra, Committee member Richard Wright said "Jan aims to ensure his rehearsals are relaxed and informal whilst at the same time ensuring that every musician becomes the best they can possibly be. This, in turn, ensures a high level of professionalism and develops the musical skills and experience of everyone taking part. He also strives to ensure that the repertoire of any of his orchestras is always varied and challenging. The atmosphere is friendly, informal and geared towards encouraging the best performances from its members and aiding their musical development. The orchestra has an "open admission" ethos - which means that there is no audition and no one is ever turned away, the only requirements are a basic ability to read music, a desire to play with other performers and a sense of humour."

Richard added "There are 3 separate orchestras; Introductory, Intermediate and the "Main" Orchestra, so there is sure to be an orchestra suitable to most playing abilities. The average attendance is between 60 and 70 players and a number of players participate in more than one orchestra. All three orchestras share the common goals of enjoyment, encouragement and development".

All three Orchestras perform two concerts each year. The Orchestras rehearse on Saturday mornings in term time at Barrow Village Hall with the Introductory and Intermediate Orchestras session starting at 9.15 am and the Main Orchestra at 11.10 am.

Full details about the Jan Modelski Community Orchestra and how to get involved can be found at:

www.thejanmodelskiorchestra.co.uk

Pictured - Members of the Jan Modelski Community Orchestra celebrating their return to making music.