Cellos
Kevin Cook - Principal
I took up playing 'cello when I was 12 years old - but only because my two best school friends did. They had lessons once a week after school. All our school days we three had walked home together, so I used to wait quietly for them in the corner of the hall until they had finished, so we could still do so. After a few weeks of this I thought "..well, might as well have a go myself.." - and there just happened to be one last school 'cello unused. My friends both gave the instrument up some years later but I have never regretted it and will forever be indebted to John and David for getting me started.
I did all the usual youth orchestra stuff until my student days were over and, save for a couple of breaks, have played regularly with a number of different orchestras wherever I have lived. One such break lasted around 4 years, when I first moved to the Huddersfield area and was too busy with my young family and career to make time for the local amateur music scene - a big mistake! There is nothing to rival music making as the perfect relaxation and relief from the stresses and strains of everyday life (....well, except maybe football). I finally got restarted with Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra, which a number of the Paddock members also play in. After some years of trying, Alfi finally persuaded me to come and play for her orchestra in Paddock, which was desperately short of 'cellists. [See Allan's entry elsewhere - I think by that time there was just one other 'cellist]. I think the original idea was just to supplement their numbers from time-to-time but it is a great little orchestra and I soon found myself 'hooked'. The standard is not as challenging as Slaithwaite Philharmonic, so for me it is just a 'fun play' which gives me the chance to focus on aspects of my playing that I cannot do at Slaithwaite.
Under Alfi's excellent and enthusiastic direction Paddock Orchestra has grown in quality, size and confidence in recent years and regularly presents concerts at a variety of local venues. It has also afforded me the opportunity to develop my skills as a section principle, which also pays off when at times I am required to lead at Slaithwaite. Though more players are always welcome, particularly strings, I now find myself in charge of a sound section of eight 'cellists.
So come on, whether you are a lapsed player looking for somewhere to restart, a virtual beginner (of any age!), an experienced player wanting a chance to use your second instrument or you are just looking for somewhere to play with a friendly, easy-going bunch of fellow amateurs - Paddock could be the place for you!
Philip Shaw
I started learning the cello fairly late in life (around 40ish). I used to play classical guitar in my teens, but have longed to play a group instrument after seeing the fun my children had playing Suzuki violin with others. After a couple of years of slow progress I heard about Paddock orchestra - a group who played for fun, and included a number of beginners and musicians taking up a second (third or fourth!) instrument. It took a lot of courage to attend my first rehearsal about 7 years ago, but I have only missed the occasional Tuesday night since and even finished up chairing the committee for a few years until September 2004. The sense of achievement after my first ever concert was wonderful, and I still get a buzz to be part of an orchestra, particularly as I have to "mime" less and less!
Paddock is a superb balance in many respects. Rehearsals are fun, yet challenging. We aim to play musically and to the best of our abilities, but nobody is ever singled out for under-performing. We are a mixture of new musicians like myself, along with experienced more proficient players some of whom are trying a second (third or fourth!) instrument. They provide a strong core for the orchestra around which the rest of us can mould. Everyone is friendly and inviting and we enjoy two or three concerts each year plus the odd trip to the pub plus a summer barbecue. Come and give us a try!
Alison Quigley
I am married with two sons aged 22 and 19 and work as an IT Consultant. I have just finished studying for a BA with Music with The Open University - and although it was hard work, I loved it.
I took up the 'cello when I was 12 - because I wanted to play in the school orchestra. At the time there was only one cellist - a gorgeous chemistry teacher upon whom I had a schoolgirl crush! As luck would have it, the teacher had moved on to another school by the time I was good enough to join the orchestra - but by then I was hooked on the 'cello and joined anyway! Sadly I stopped playing the 'cello when I left full time education and concentrated on a career, relocating from London to Halifax and having children. It is only in the last eight years, when I realised that my life revolved around work and family and I had no hobbies of my own (mid life crisis?), that I have taken it up again - mainly as a way to relax and de-stress from life in IT! Since then I have rediscovered my love for the instrument.
I joined Paddock Orchestra in September 2002. Not familiar with the local music scene, this purely came about while browsing the internet. Being a bit of a computer buff, I had been participating in an active amateur 'cellists chat forum called 'Cellists By Night' - mainly American contributors - but they all talked about playing in local orchestras and how much fun it was. I decided to put the Google search engine to good use - and low and behold, spotted the Paddock Orchestra web site. So rather nervously, I joined - with the usual worries buzzing around in my head such as 'Will I be able to play anything? What if they don't talk to me?' et al. I needn't have worried - everyone made me so welcome and now I wouldn't be without it. I am also a member of Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra.
Adele Pearson
I was asked if I would like to play the 'cello when I was nine, thanks to my proficiency on the descant recorder and being of the right height! I decided to give it a go, and soon decided it was much better than the violin I may have ended up with had I joined the crowd a year earlier. School orchestras (where I soon became the only 'cello) and the local music centre followed, which gave me the opportunity to play for North Yorkshire Schools Symphony Orchestra.
I briefly toyed with the idea of a music career, but my experience of A-Level Music was not a happy one, and so I opted for my other love, English, instead, on the proviso that the university I chose had an orchestra attached. I played in Strathclyde University Orchestra for two years, but gave up in 1996 as the 'cello is not the easiest instrument to get on the Underground system of Glasgow, and I lived too far away to walk.
The 'cello then stayed forlornly in its case, save for the odd time when I picked it up, for the next 7 years, while I developed my next career path. Having moved to Dewsbury in 2002 due to my job, I decided I needed a hobby to get me out of the house, and buying children's books for a living was becoming a bit of an obsession. Being a good librarian, I visited the local library to try and find a community section, to no avail, and so turned to the Internet. While on the Kirklees web-site I found Paddock, a haven for lapsed players such as myself, who had the standard but lacked the confidence to join more formal orchestras after such a long lay-off. I contacted Alfi, who warmly welcomed me, and after a hesitant start (the wonders of Huddersfield's ring road was a mystery to me!) I joined in September 2003. The atmosphere is warm and relaxing, and I have got back into playing again with a vengeance, and have since joined another orchestra from the contacts I have made there. I was told that I would always have some form of social life while I played the 'cello, and Paddock has proved this theory true!
Michael Howden
I started learning to play almost 11 years ago. I could not read music so it was a start from scratch - but although its been hard work at times, it has turned out to be good fun. I have been playing in the orchestra for three year now and I thoroughly enjoy it. I'm almost 63 and I work in mechanical design engineering.
Nareece Forrest
I started learning when I was 8 years old, when the peripatetic 'cello teacher visited my school and said I had such a good ear I had to take up the 'cello! Personally, I think she was struggling for students, but 20 years on I'm still playing (and learning!).
Actually, I love music so much it was the first GCSE I knew I wanted to do, then A level then a Batchelor of Music degree at Huddersfield University! After graduating I settled in Huddersfield and earn an honest living as a Manager in an Opticians. Its funny how life goes as music hasn't turned into the career I thought I'd have, but my ultimate dream is still to teach the 'cello.
Although I've only been coming to Paddock Orchestra for the last 6 months (like Kevin, its a 'fun play'), I have been playing with Slaithwaite Philharmonic since January 2002. I also play in the All Music Consort with friends (great fun!) and as part of a String Quartet playing music at weddings etc.
Malcolm Wilson
OK - I'm 62 years old and I work in a garage in Elland!
I started learning the 'cello when I was 11 years old at the Mount Pleasant school in Huddersfield. My first 'cello teacher was a guy called Mr Hanson, who at the time, went round many schools in Huddersfield teaching and inspiring budding cellists. I believe it was his teaching that inspired me. In the years that followed, I played in Huddersfield Youth Orchestra - even travelling to France to play. At 16, I was given a German 'cello from 1890. Sadly though, I gave it all up at age 19 - in favour of my first girlfriend - and no, I didn't marry her!
Many years passed (30+ in fact) until the sight of my old 'cello in the attic - unwanted, unloved and in desperate need of repair - inspired me to play again. I had the 'cello repaired - new strings, new bridge etc. - and to my surpise it has now been valued at £2000 . I began taking lessons again from Mary Cawood (a well known 'cello teacher in Huddersfield who also teaches at Huddersfield University) - and I've not looked back since.
I've been coming to Paddock Orchestra for 12 years now - the people are great and are good fun. I thoroughly enjoy it - and I find it relaxes me and calms my nerves. I admit to having the odd adrenaline rush - but thats another story!