Once again, we were delighted to return to the Parish Church at Pulham St Mary and support their much-needed repairs and renovation. After a fairy tale opening with excerpts from Stravinksky’s ‘Firebird Suite’, we were treated to a ‘Concerto for Two Clarinets’ by Franz Krommer, with Clare Jarman and Mike Bishop as talented soloists. Then it was back to fairy land with the Nocturne and Wedding March from Mendlessohn’s ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’. The centre piece of the second half was Shubert’s ‘6th Symphony’, played with assurance by the orchestra. The concert ended with Peter Cooper’s ‘Over Here’, expertly built around a medley of American wartime hits. Altogether, a very enjoyable evening.

Particular thanks are due to members of the church who laid on both a teatime spread for the orchestra and, later, a range of refreshments for the audience.

On Saturday 7th March, the Pennoyer Centre hosted a celebration of all the groups and societies that meet in the villages of Pulham St Mary and Pulham Market. As founding members of the community centre, Pulham Orchestra were asked to be present and provide a musical programme for the event.

And so it was that Clare and Sarah flew a small flag for the orchestra, playing a series of duets for oboe and clarinet.

The event was well attended and many people spoke of how much they enjoyed attending our concerts. One man remembered that his grandparents played in the orchestra when it was first set up by Doctor Rawlinson and Margery Baker.

Our orchestra truly lies at the heart of the Pulham community!

Our summer concert this year was at the kind invitation of the Parish Church at Pulham St Mary. Starting with three excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, the main item was Schubert's 8th Symphony, known as the "Unfinished", a lyrical and romantic piece ably played by the orchestra. The first half concluded with the Grasshopper's Dance by Bucalossi. The highlights of the concert were two bagatelles by Finzi with solo clarinet expertly played by Michael Bishop. This was followed by the delightful Scenes Rustiques by Mouton and a rousing rendition of the Dambusters March by Coates.

Our thanks to the members of the church for their welcome and refreshments for orchestra and audience.

Our spring concert this year was at the kind invitation of the Parish Church at East Harling. Starting with several excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, the main item was Beethoven's 5th Symphony, which the orchestra played with their normal flair. After an interval, the church choir joined the orchestra in a rendition of Finlandia by Sibelius. The words evoke the true nationalistic nature of the piece, finishing with 'Thy morning's come, O Finland of ours!'. The concert concluded with some delightful Scenes Rustique by Mouton and the Grasshopper's Dance by Bucalossi.

Our thanks to the members of the church for their welcome and refreshments.