If you wish for definitive proof of the beauty inherent in chaos, seat yourself early at the orchestra and admire their sound – ambient, pure tones unrestricted by melody or rhythm.
Such was the case on the eve of Dec. 11, when the Southeastern Community Connecticut Orchestra’s (SECCO’s) dress rehearsal brought much joy and warmth to the blustery night of this reporter.
Seated comfortably upon the large stage of ELHS’ auditorium, the diverse medley of performers composing the orchestra began their final preparations. With a signal from conductor Hillarie Moore, the group burst into a movement from Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel.
The SECCO, now in their third season, was formed from the division of the New London Orchestra, of which Moore was conductor.
“She doesn’t mess around or necessarily try to be too nice. She knows what she wants. She’s not struggling to ask for [that],” viola player Selena Roy said of her.
These qualities make the community orchestra one of the best in the region.
“[With] very little time [for] preparation, they were able to bring joy to the audience in the house,” Moore said of last night’s delightful show, which featured a “classical” selection of a variety of Christmas and Channukah favorites.
Though grandeur is plenty when they burst into Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Polonaise, the orchestra’s heart, as its name suggests, is on the community.
“There’s been a lot of discussions. [We need some] strengthening [of] these certain things, the brass need certain things, the strings, but in fact, if they really listen, they’re speaking the same language, whether you’re talking about your bow technique or how you use your breath as a wind player, we’re really talking about the same things,” Moore remarked. “We’re still working on the understanding of how we all work together collaboratively as part of a greater whole that has so much potential.”
That positive attitude was echoed throughout their performance, which brought glee to all attendees with their delightful renditions of such holiday classics as “Sleigh Bells,” complete with a very-convincing horn-imitation of a neigh.
“It’s a community orchestra, which means any skill level that you bring to the table is going to be exactly enough,” Moore said, “The best you can do is just always exactly right.”
ELHS alum Nathan Bergman echoed this same sentiment.
“There’s nothing you can lose,” he said.
