The Carpe Musicam! Orchestra was formed in July 2015

with the express purpose of providing

a safe, fun and educational space for young (and not-so-young musicians)

in which to learn the not-so-gentle art of orchestral playing. 

In the beginning we had only 16 members,

but since then we have grown to a regular38-or-so.

Along the way we have lost more players than we have gained,

and if present and past members were all to sit on the stage together

we would have over 50 players in this very special group.

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But, why the comings and goings?

The Carpe Musicam! Orchestra

is a musical family of keen and enthusiastic amateur musicians.

A high percentage of members is -

and will hopefully always be -

young people who are still bound to the necessary nuisances

of school and university.

Sooner or later the day comes

when something has to be cut from their daily schedule.....

Luckily the orchestra is flexible and resilient enough to roll with the punches.

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Our main "secret weapon" lies in the fact that every piece of music that we play

is especially arranged and orchestrated for us by Norman,

for our current instrumentation and player skill level.

This means that even a player who has only been playing for a few months

will have a part that is within their grasp,

and which will make a meaningful contribution to the ensemble.

Arrangements are continually being updated to suit the current instrumentation.

  The change in instrumentation may happen at very short notice,

(eg sickness, family crises etc.) 

and the musicians are to be complimented on their courage

in sometimes going before an audience with some very under-rehearsed music.

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Which leads us to our second "secret weapon".

We have no stars or "heroes". 

It is true that the more skilful players get the more flamboyant parts to play,

but that is seen as extra responsibility rather than added glamour.

We are all musos together carrying out a task together.

Luckily it is a task that we all enjoy,

but we are disciplined enough to grit our teeth and give our best

for some of the more esoteric pieces

which we are called upon to play from time to time,

or when an altered part gets plonked on our stand at the final rehearsal.....

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We believe that practical musicianship is

worth much more than the ability to win prizes  at music competitions,

or excel at examinations.

In our opinion, the ability to sit down in front of previously unseen music

in an unfamiliar group of musicians,

and to have the calm confidence to give a good account of oneself

is the real test  of a musician.

 The only form of audition used by Carpe Musicam!

is to watch new players'  body language at their first rehearsal.

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Another tenet is that the rehearsal and performance of music

must always be fun.

When people are happy, they learn and perform better.

Musicians are no exception.