‘It’s true I was a bit naughty! I wanted us to have fun so the orchestra went and played on the public beach on the Corniche,” said Emma. “I thought it would be cool, like a busking atmosphere, and Coldstone Creamery said yes sure set yourselves up. We were all ready to play, we had our stands, instruments, and all the parents came to watch.
“There was quite a big audience emerging. Just as I was about to begin a security guard walks up and says, “sorry you can’t play.” I was stunned. I looked at all the kids, and audience, and just said pleeaase can we talk about this! He explained I needed permission from the beach, luckily his boss was there and I showed him the people all waiting for me to go and conduct. He said ‘ok’, but he wanted to talk to me afterwards… I was so nervous. The whole time I was conducting I was expecting him to stop me! Afterwards he came straight up to me but this time with a huge smile. He absolutely loved the music, everyone did, it was a fantastic day.”
Emma started this grass roots orchestra in December last year with the goal of taking live peformances out into the community. ‘One concert was in the Library of Khalifa University. I didn’t know what the reception would be, but lots of local guys came up afterwards saying how much they enjoyed the live music.’
I went a long to one of the practice meet ups and I found myself becoming surprised. I really hadn’t expected them all to come from different schools, to be different ages and to come from such different places. As soon as the music began the reason why all these kids were meant to play together became clear, the powerful sounds of the strings; I was overwhelmed.
‘I like how all the instruments play their own set of music and when you put it all together it sounds really amazing! When we perform together you really feel like you have a piece mastered,’ says Braxton Rhodes, the newest member of Abu Dhabi Strings.
There was no doubt this grass roots orchestra’s powerful performances came through a lot hard work. Violinist Fiona D’Silva told me she practices ‘four hours a day’, and Lu Ye complained about her ‘red fingers’.
‘It’s quite a big commitment, I want it to be even better quality and that means even more rehearsing. If you’re surrounded by other people that are also doing the same thing then it helps. You also need to have inspirational influences,’ Emma told me. Emma herself has played the violin with the likes of Kanye West and Harry Connick Jr, and the Abu Dhabi Strings had the amazing honour of playing with the renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, probably one of the most famous musicians of the modern age.
‘You know when you learn to play an instrument you learn so much about classical music. A lot of people our age just don’t know what we know,’ explained Jenny Willbond.
That may be true, yet their music does seem to hypnotise any audience. Where could this orchestra go next? ‘Hogwarts!’ exclaimed Veronica Reeves. Then with a smile Emma revealed, ‘We’re going to be playing in Café Arabia on Friday the 25th November at 4pm. It’s a great venue, there’s going to be a buffet, lemonades, art on the walls and we have a wonderful repertoire. It’ll be exciting.’
After hearing the guys practice, one thing for sure is that this is not a concert to be missed. There are limited seats, at Dh 30 each, including refreshments. If you’re interested in seeing this exciting string orchestra perform make sure you RSVP at abudhabistrings@gmail.com or check them out on their website www.abudhabistrings.com
By Hana Maki
