Orchestras link up for a unique north-east performance
SAXOPHONES by the dozen, a fascinating sight filled the amphitheatre at the Acorn Centre in Inverurie on Saturday evening.
The guest performers were the Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra (ASO) and the Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra (PSO) from Leicestershire.
Chair of the Aberdeenshire ensemble Foss Foster said how happy they were to be playing at the Acorn with its fine accoustics: "People are often surprised at how versatile the saxophone is.
""It copes happily with many different types of music from classical to the more traditional jazz and swing."
"We have all walks of life and all ages in our orchestra, our youngest is 14 and most senior 82.
"We play in all sorts of venues, in schools and we hold learning workshops."
Foss's group, the only saxophone orchestra in Scotland - there were 38 members on Saturday night- have monthly rehearsals at the Hopeville Social Club
Recently the groups were jointly short-listed for a National Inspirational award.
Players have many different reasons for being drawn to the saxophone, its glorious beauty being one of them, its versatility being another.
The grand finale was a haunting performance of Mendelssohn's Hebridean overture Fingals Cave joined by the Phoenix saxophone orchestra.
Foss added: "The whole weekend went very well.
"Phoenix did a mini tour enjoying our wonderful coastal and Deeside scenery on the Friday and playing pop-up concerts at The Braemar Bothy and Crathes castle as they travelled round.
"We then rehearsed together on Saturday afternoon which was the first time we had ever played together live.
"Then we played the concert in the evening to a massively enthusiastic audience in the beautiful Acorn Centre.
"First thing on Sunday morning we played another concert at Aden Country Park under the auspices of ‘Music at Aden’.
"This was very well received too; after all nothing quite like this has ever been seen in the north east of Scotland!
"ASO put on a couple of saxophone workshops on Sunday afternoon as part of our on-going outreach program to all saxophonists in the area and of course the Phoenix players enjoyed taking part in these too.
"All in all this was a stunningly successful culmination to what started as a small idea during Covid!"
