Wyndham might be more outer-west than inner, but that hasn’t stopped Werribee violinist Elisha Gillespie-Lloyd from joining the Inner West Symphony Orchestra .
Founded in October last year by three Yarraville music teachers who realised there was no significant musical outlets for residents in the west, the Inner-West Symphony Orchestra recently held its first official concert at the Williamstown Town Hall.
Among the orchestra members performing pieces by Sibelius, Bizet, Tchaikovsky and local composer George Barsoum at the concert was Gillespie-Lloyd, a private violin teacher in Werribee.
Having not played in a orchestra setting since leaving school, she was perhaps a little too excited by the prospect of doing so again.
“I accidently arrived a week too early to their first rehearsals- I literally couldn’t wait,” said Gillespie-Lloyd who is a prime example of why the orchestra was established.
After taking up violin aged 9, she progressed through to youth orchestras and string ensembles, but after leaving school, a lack of local orchestras in Werribee meant she could only perform solo at weddings and events.
Gillespie-Lloyd said the opportunity to join the Inner West Symphony Orchestra had filled a void in her musical career.
“As soon as you arrive at rehearsals you can feel the excitement in the air,” she said.
“The sense of community and the gratitude that we can meet each week to share our love of playing an instrument in a full symphony orchestra – it’s such an honour to be part of. The friendships we have made in such a short period of time is something I am so thankful for.”
The orchestra is planning another concert in July and rehearses every Monday night at Footscray Primary School.
For more information, visit: www.iwso.com.au
Cade Lucas
