Members Info

Contact Details for Coffs Harbour City Orchestra Committee

President:              Brian Holden                (02)6691 4917
Vice President       Rosemary Lloyd          (02)6655 1341
Secretary               Pamela Fayle               (02)6654 7700
Treasurer               David Fayle                 (02)6654 7700
Librarian                Judie Bartley                (02)6655 1015
Publicity Officer    Mart Meulenbroeks      (02)6653 2402
Director                  Betty Bailey                 (02)6652 3642
Conductor              (see below)

Current Members of the Orchestra

Conductor Peter Kaukiainen;

Assistant
Conductors Aditya van der Meulen, Betty Bailey, Rosemary Lloyd, Dylan Quinlan-Baskett

Violins              Doug Lindsay, Carolyn Ryan, Ruth Egan, Joy Griffin (on leave), Una Lynch,
                          Sonia Ellem, Nerida Lee, Robyn Coulton, Pamela Fayle, Margaret Spark,
                          Alicia Kaminsky (on leave for hsc), (occasional guest violinists: Barbara Trist and
                          Barbara Crosby)
Violas                Ruth Egan, David Fayle,(occasional guest violist Blake Cutler)
Cellos                Betty Bailey, Catherine Davis, Michela Friolo, Jenny Demkin
Double Bass     currently vacant
Flute                  Christina Szalay-Kessler, Melanie Stead, Anna Fry, Roisin McCallum,
                           Leanne Ellem, Deb Meredith, Melinda Boyse, Lydia Sowa
Clarinet             Patrina Lee, Gay Manolidis, Mart Meulenbroeks,
                           Leslie Fitzgerald (occasional guest clarinetist Blake Cutler)
Bass Clarinet    Mary Brabrook (on leave), Jacinta Clarke
Saxophone        Tony Morales (alto), Jen Bedford (soprano), Rowan Butler (tenor),
                           Beau Macauley (tenor)
Oboe                  currently vacant (Jai Farrell, Sue Taylor and Hazel Buchanen are occasional guest
                           oboists)
Bassoon             Rosemary Lloyd, Aditya van der Meulen
Trumpet             Robert Greenfield (Rudi Strating is occasional guest trumpeter)
Trombone          currently vacant (Kelwyn Soh and Bill Vitnell are occasional guest trombonists)
French Horn      currently vacant (Blake Cutler is occasional guest french horn player)

Percussion         Judy Bartley, Lionel Stead, Dylan Quinlan-Baskett
Piano                  Wilma Romero
Keyboard/Bass  Brian Holden
Harp                   Peter Kaukiainen

What we Expect of You
You will need to have your own instrument and music stand. Orchestra chairs are provided for practices and performances. Otherwise, all we expect is that you play to the best of your ability and let us know when you can’t be at rehearsals or performances. Don’t feel guilty about this. If your life commitments mean you can’t be there, good – you’ll return refreshed and happy. If you feel the part you have been given to play is beyond your current ability, let the conductor know and we will arrange one that will suit you.

Orchestra members pay an annual fee to cover costs such as insurance, performers association memberships and the cost of hiring, buying and copying music (this can be paid up front or in flexible installments or acquitted by means of fund raising). Students enjoy a 50% discount on their membership fee and an annual scholarship to encourage a young player covers their annual fee in full. There is also a family discount when more than one member of a family plays in the orchestra. New players are not charged membership fee for the first 6 months while they check out whether they wish to continue.

What you can Expect of Us
Mixing with a group of talented musicians who have a passion for great music - getting to play music that has shaped our civilization is also a big plus! Getting the buzz of playing Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and other greats is also a good feel. These guys really knew what music was all about. Bringing real music to people in the Coffs area – when they hear it, they love it. Plus, you will actually learn a lot about music through all of this.

Orchestra members are not paid for their performances, this is a Community Orchestra. We often perform for the community at little or no fee but where we charge entrance, the takings are used to pay for venue hire and advertising, buy necessary equipment, supplement costs of buying or renting musical scores (expensive) and to pay guest soloists or co-performers where appropriate.

Rehearsals
Rehearsals are held from 7-9pm every Thursday (except over the Christmas/January holiday break) at the O Block Lecture Theatre at the CHEC Campus in Hogbin Drive Coffs Harbour. Check reminder notices on this site for notices about any other cancellations (eg in school holidays we often take a week or two break if many members are away and we sometimes practise at another venue if the CHEC facilities are being used for exams etc). Please try to be there and set up by 7 pm for tuning. If you’re late don’t worry – just fit in as best you can, not all of us are time-freaks.

Practising
Pleeeeeeeease practise your parts if you find them difficult. Your part, however unimportant you may think it is, is actually very important.

Performances
We play for performances as the opportunities occur. We try to do at least one nursing home or retirement village each year as a community service and we volunteer our time for a workshop and concert with primary school students once a year. Most concerts are in school and church or community halls or club venues, but we also occasionally play outdoors where there is appropriate shelter for instruments (eg at the Botanic Gardens and some school covered areas). Advance notice of performances are notified on this website. If you can’t be there, it is absolutely essential that you tell the conductor in advance. Dress for performances is all black.