>> It was, frankly, bizarre to be in Manchester’s wonderful North Tea Power, chatting to the leader of the famous Wingates brass band… about the formation of a symphony orchestra thousands of miles away. But that’s Andy Berryman’s life right now – he’s the conductor of the UAENSO based in Abu Dhabi. Yet to play their first concert, they’ve had to overcome plenty of obstacles to realise their dream of setting up a symphony orchestra in the Emirate, but, save a tuba player, they’ve almost got there now. Although the website needs updating massively…
Anyway, it’s an interesting story, not least because these people aren’t doing it for money but the sheer love of performance. Most of the orchestra comprises ex-pat professional musicians (Andy himself has been the Halle’s Principal Trombonist in his time) who have gone to the Emirates to teach – although the impressive long term intention is to foster an environment where Emirati musicians can be encouraged to play.
Many thanks to North Tea Power for being so accommodating with our snapper. At least we didn’t ask Andy to get his baton out and start conducting the coffee drinkers of the Northern Quarter…
Click here to read the full story of the UAENSO in The National
