Our Musicians
The orchestra has around 80 current players, drawn from as far afield as Derby, Leicester, Melton Mowbray and Nottingham as well as our key local town of Loughborough. Here's a brief glance at some of them -
Jon Barwell
Jon is the orchestra's Leader, but his day job is as an IT Consultant. He is married to Kathryn (a cellist in the Charnwood) whom he met on the first Charnwood Orchestra tour to Pithiviers in 1994.
He lives in Quorn so it only takes him five minutes to get to rehearsals. He used to enjoy a game of golf BC (before children) so we are exceedingly lucky that he has given priority to maintaining his position as leader of the Orchestra.
Martin Gilding
Martin, one of our four regular horn players, retired at the end of 2005 from a career as a Chartered Patent Agent and European Patent Attorney, having been a partner in a Nottingham firm for 10 years before becoming a consultant to the firm and gradually bowing out.
Martin plays the horn (a complete change from his working life) and first performed with the Charnwood Orchestra under its founding Conductor, Joe O'Reilly, and became a regular member in 2003. He enjoys being a member because, as well as playing of a high standard under a Conductor who makes all of the rehearsals interesting, the Orchestra is very sociable.
Martin has played in many of the orchestras of Leicestershire, and was the 1st horn of the Leicester Symphony Orchestra for many years, a position from which he retired in 2004, shortly before he left the Bardi Symphony Orchestra. He is still a member of the Rutland Sinfonia and the Oadby & Wigston Orchestra, as well as the Charnwood Orchestra. He also enjoys playing chamber music when the opportunity presents itself.
Richard Lord
When Richard first joined the Orchestra there were only three cellists, now there are sometimes 14! He loves playing in the Charnwood Orchestra because the rehearsals are so enjoyable and the social side is excellent. Richard lives in Loughborough so has a 10 minute drive to rehearsals.
Richard works as a software developer for an engineering company in Nottingham. The company offers consultancy and sells software for the design of gearboxes and transmission systems, and has most car manufacturers as customers.
Each week, when he is not at work or playing music, Richard plays football and table tennis. He also tries to go walking as much as possible, either in the Peak District, the Lake District, or North Wales. He never has a dull moment!
Rachel Hilliam
Rachel leads the viola section. In addition to Charnwood she plays for the Bardi Orchestra and describes herself as the stand-in viola for virtually all the local quartets!
She doesn't have time for other hobbies although she does have a few violin and viola pupils and she a few years ago found time to write a book about Galileo for teenagers.
She thinks that Charnwood Orchestra is definitely the most friendly orchestra she has ever played with!
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