By Evelyn Cullen
DONEGAL is no stranger to a bit of wind, but this September, it will be of the symphonic variety as the Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra makes its first ever visit to the county.
More than 80 musicians from across Ireland will come together for a special concert at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny on Sunday, September 20 at 6pm.
Among them will be Glenties man David McKelvey, who plays trombone with the national orchestra and is particularly looking forward to the opportunity to perform on home soil.
“It’s such a privilege to be part of this national orchestra and to perform alongside musicians of such a high standard and a world-class conductor,” David said.
“To now have the opportunity to showcase the orchestra in my native county is really special.”
The Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra (ISWO) was first assembled in 2014 for what was intended to be a one-off performance of Johan de Meij’s The Lord of the Rings.
However, the success of that
concert highlighted a need for
an ensemble which would give
accomplished musicians the
opportunity to continue performing original wind band music at a
national level, and ISWO was officially born.
Since then, the orchestra has brought together talented musicians from all corners of Ireland, meeting twice a year in different locations to rehearse and perform.
While this will be the orchestra’s first trip to Donegal, ISWO has previously performed in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Killarney and Athlone.
The orchestra also received international recognition early in its life when it was invited to represent Ireland at the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) in Utrecht in 2017, a prestigious invitation for an ensemble which had only been established a few years earlier.
David’s own association with the trombone goes back much further. He first took up the instrument at the age of ten, and he recalls there was a rather practical reason why it was chosen for him.
“I was identified for the trombone because I had long arms,” he laughed.
It is an instrument which takes considerable perseverance to master. David says that when learning the trombone it can take weeks of practice simply to produce a proper sound.
Even for an experienced player, regular practice remains essential, as the muscles used to play the instrument need to be kept
strong.
Over the years, ISWO has performed under the baton of a distinguished list of conductors, including Johan de Meij, Philip Sparke, Tim Reynish, Mark Heron, Liam Daly and Fergus O’Carroll.
This year the baton will be taken up by conductor Ronan O’Reilly, who will lead the orchestra through a programme featuring dances from around the world.
The Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra performs at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny, at 6pm on Sunday, September 20.
Tickets will be available at the door, priced at €20 and €10.