The LSO and me at play by Rhianna

Rhianna is one of the lucky girls who sat in the flute section of the LSO on Sunday 24 June 2012. Here is her report:

On Sunday 24th June 2012 I had the honour of sitting in the flute section of the London Symphony Orchestra with Julian, Sharon and, the one ,the only, Gareth Davies.  Ever since I found out that I had won this amazing experience, I felt like a shaken can of the fizziest drink on earth! It was only as my parents and I were waiting to go to the stage door to meet Gareth that the nerves began to set in. I was jigging about next to my mum when I heard ‘Hi you must be Rhianna.’ At this point I swizzled round to see Gareth Davies and then I realised I still hadn’t said anything yet so I replied ‘Hi, WOW, Hi’. Once I had got over the fact that this was Gareth Davies I realised that he was extremely pleasant and very easy to talk to (so easy I may have spoken a tad too much).
 After my mum went to take her seat with Dad in the concert hall, we met up with Daisy and said goodbye to Liz.  We were taken into the coolest backstage area I’ve ever seen. I heard violinists warming up with endless scales (although not as quickly as Gareth as we found out later on), people retrieving instruments from their cases and even a television. We promptly got out our flutes and it was time to go on stage.
 As I walked giddily onto the stage of the Barbican, I felt something that I just didn’t want to end. Gareth sat me down next to Sharon, the flute and piccolo player. I was given a set of earplugs. For the majority of the concert I was at a loss to know why.  I mean, I live in a family of musicians including an ex-opera singer.  I can cope with loud noises… And then we came across the Theme from Star Wars and everything fell into place. It all started with the piccolo’s first note. It was very high and very loud. Even with the earplugs I still had to put my fingers in my ears. Yes, it was that loud. I’m pretty sure that the piccolo’s first note alone was louder than an entire brass band! Even through the earplugs and my fingers, I could still hear the music very clearly and in that piece, and all the others, the LSO sounded extraordinary!
At the end of this amazing day Gareth gave Daisy and me a signed CD of him playing (It’s fantastic by the way!)
Finally, I just want to thank Liz for making this happen, Gareth for being so accommodating and friendly, the entire LSO for being so welcoming and of course my parents for moving heaven, earth and a visit to my Nanna to allow me to have this wonderful experience. Happy Fluting Flutewise!