Cheltenham is approaching…

Three and a half weeks to go until we play at the Cheltenham Festival. I get a bit manic as I get psyched up for doing a big show and channel the nerves into preparation. Some people call it stress but I call it excitement and I will be hopping around with a mad glint in mys eye for the next few weeks. I can’t wait to do the recital and I feel we are playing some quality music. We picked the programme back in January when we were in the midst of Purcell Room fever and it all seemed like a long way off. I know through experience that these things have a habit of creeping up on you but still!

Rehearsals are a nightmare because as freelancers we all have to take work when we get it and right now things are busy for all of us. We are rehearsing at really antisocial times with whoever can make it. There is a lot of mutual pressure not to let each other down which helps to force you over to the other side of London for a 10pm rehearsal. Fortunately we were on tour last week together so we had some time to rehearse and went across to Chethams and used their wonderful hall for a few hours. We were playing concerts in yokshire for adults with special needs. They were great audiences and we tried a lot of the Cheltenham stuff out on them and it went down well so that is a good sign.

Anyway, do get your tickets and come and see how it all turns out. Will our composers finish their commissions in time? Will I have time to buy a new dress? Come along and find out.