THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 4, 1994 TAG: 9412010205
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
THE BRIEF in the paper caught my eye. It said the Outer Banks Symphony Orchestra was still looking for musicians.
Hello. The Outer Banks Symphony Orchestra? Who ever heard of such a thing?
Bruce Robbins was listed as the contact person. I called him.
Robbins, 33, lives in Kill Devil Hills with his wife, Jane. They moved from Tennessee in 1993. Robbins majored in music at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn.
In high school, Robbins was a tenor in the all-state chorus. He attended college on a scholarship earned from a high school composition contest. Robbins plays cello, piano and guitar. Most of his training is in woodwind transcription.
After college, Robbins and his wife worked in the newspaper business. They moved to the Outer Banks to ``get some fresh air.''
Robbins likes the fresh air, but misses his classical music. His dream has always been to play in a symphony orchestra. In the last 18 months, Robbins has met a lot of dreamers.
``I kept running into closet musicians, and they all shared a dream of playing in an orchestra,'' says Robbins.
The dreamers talked. Talks became discussion. Discussion became action: Form a committee. Robbins, Cathey Clawson, Jane Brown, Nancy Herman-Thompson, Rhonda Parker and Crystal Horseley are the overture committee.
The first meeting/rehearsal was Nov. 1. Sixteen musicians attended. Many of the players brought instruments pulled out of attics and basements. Some didn't even have instruments, but Robbins says the spirit was there.
``The enthusiasm was high. Some of the musicians who played hit sour notes, but it didn't matter.''
Robbins is a cello player, although he's the first to admit he's not a good one. His strengths are organization and composition. He's also a bit of a dreamer.
``I think Dare County is ready for a symphony,'' he says. ``I don't think we can ever limit outselves. There's always room for growth.''
Most of the musicians signed up so far are horn players or percussionists. Herman-Thompson and Parker are flutists. There is a imbalance. The players formed ensembles to practice.
``We're actually playing in quartets until more string players can be found,'' Robbins says.
Because there is no amplification in a symphony orchestra, the brass can easily overpower the strings, Robbins says. A full orchestra calls for 24 violins and 6 violas.
``There is a science to all this,'' he says.
The quartets are practicing Christmas carols now. Robbins says there is a possibility that the small bands may play in a live setting this month.
Robbins says the goal now is to get players playing.
``We want to have a nurturing environment.''
One of the committee's main concerns is money. Funds can be found through such organizations as the American Symphony League, which provides money for small-town orchestras.
``We know it's available, but we don't know how much or when,'' says Robbins.
The dream committee discusses other things at the weekly meetings, such as formation of a junior orchestra and financing a symphony hall. Also discussed is finding a conductor. So far, there have been a half-dozen applicants.
Robbins says finding a conductor is not as difficult as it appears.
``There are lots of people here and out of town who just want to be part of a symphony orchestra.''
Robbins knows some of the players may not make the final cut, but for him that's OK.
``I may not be ready. I just appreciate my peers allowing me to play.''
Another player, flutist Elsie Jo Brill of Nags Head, says her feelings mirror Robbins'.
``There are a lot of musicians who just want to play. I am surprised at the number of people who dream of playing in a symphony orchestra.''
Here's hoping to hear Beethoven, Bach and Mozart this spring. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Violinist Roy Murray rehearses with the Outer Banks Symphony
Orchestra.
by CNB