2018 Camp, Symphonic Orchestral Program
This year we spent our orchestral camp weekend at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation in Narrabeen. This was my second SYO camp with Western Sydney Youth Orchestra . The first time I went I was really nervous, but soon I made lots of new friends. There were no nerves attending this camp, as I knew all my friends would be there.
We arrived late on Friday afternoon, registered, then after a talk from the SYO team we had our first camp rehearsal that night! After supper we went to our dorms to get ready for bed. Each dorm room had five bunk beds, with around ten kids in each room. There was a common room that joined two cabins together where we could watch a little bit of TV.
My friends and I woke up around 6am, but we got out of our beds at 7am and headed off for breakie in the dining hall. On the menu was eggs, bacon, baked beans, toast, an arrangement of spreads, fruits and yoghurt. Next up was our morning rehearsal, which was conveniently in the dining hall! We played for around 2.5 hours, by which time we were in need of morning tea (muffins, fruit and muesli bars). The next rehearsal was 1.5 hours. Lunch consisted of hamburgers and salad. After an afternoon rehearsal and tutorials (1.5 hours), our afternoon tea was muffins. The final rehearsal went from 3.40pm – 5pm, after which we had some free time. My friends and I went swimming! The pool was awesome! Dinner consisted of an arrangement of meats, salads and potatoes, followed by apple crumble with custard and some cheese cake. Once full, we had a trivia night, which was really fun as I got to meet other cellists in other orchestra groups. After fruit for supper, it was 'lights out' at 10pm.
The next day my friends and I awoke at 6am again, and packed up our dormitories. Breakfast was bagels, sausages, eggs, baked beans, toast, spreads, yoghurt, juice and fruit. Then we hiked our bags all the way down to the gymnasium (my bag was REALLY HEAVY). Up the hill again for our first rehearsal of the day in preparation for the concert scheduled for the afternoon. Morning tea was muffins, and then we had our last rehearsal before burritos for lunch with salad. Then we had to hike, again, with our instruments (music bag, cello and music stand) in the baking sun, all the way back down to the gymnasium...
At 2pm our group (WSYO) started the concert off with the first movement of Mozart's Haffner Symphony, and of course, the crowd went wild!!! We tried to leave after the concert, but my grandma couldn't get her seatbelt on... so... we all got really flustered. My dad played a nasty trick on me, when, after we finally got moving in the car, he told me I had to go straight to my cello teacher for a lesson!!! He drove all the way to my teacher's house... but then turned into the awesome pizza restaurant around the corner!! (I'm still angry at my dad for tricking me...)...
At 2pm our group (WSYO) started the concert off with the first movement of Mozart's Haffner Symphony, and of course, the crowd went wild!!! We tried to leave after the concert, but my grandma couldn't get her seatbelt on... so... we all got really flustered. My dad played a nasty trick on me, when, after we finally got moving in the car, he told me I had to go straight to my cello teacher for a lesson!!! He drove all the way to my teacher's house... but then turned into the awesome pizza restaurant around the corner!! (I'm still angry at my dad for tricking me...)...
And that, my friends, was the adventure that was the 2018 SYO music camp!
Lianah Jaensch - Principal Cellist of Western Sydney Youth Orchestra
Lianah Jaensch - Principal Cellist of Western Sydney Youth Orchestra
