Get into the rhythm

IT’S BEEN almost two months in the making, and a local community orchestra’s latest concert is almost here.

Moorabool Light Orchestra’s ‘I Got Rhythm’ concert will take place in the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall, and there’ll be a mix of familiar tunes, and perhaps some new favourites, for everyone to enjoy.

The Orchestra’s President, Jeff Moran, said there was a buzz about the group at the moment, after more than six weeks of rehearsals.

“Gershwin’s cool, that’s why we’ve called the concert ‘I’ve Got Rhythm’, that’s one of the pieces we’re doing. We’ve also got a vibraphone concerto performed by Marcus Govan,” Mr Moran said.

“The Orchestra has had, with COVID, some torrid times, so our regular audience missed out on hearing us play a bit.

“We’re really just getting back on our feet now. We’ve got some new players, I’m really excited about our whole cello section, which is brand new.

“There’s a new energy around the Orchestra, there’s a lot of youth around here at the moment which is quite refreshing to us older people!”

The Orchestra is led by Ballarat conductor Sarah Barlow, with ‘I’ve Got Rhythm’ to be her second concert with the group.

“What I really love is the sense of community, and the really committed people, who are really skilled, and all they want to do is play music together,” Ms Barlow said.

“That’s, really, the purest form of doing what we all love.

“This concert in particular has a really wide range of music. We’ve got some big classic tunes everyone knows even if they don’t know the name, to jazz, to Marcus Govan’s brilliant performance.

“He’s a brilliant percussionist, he’s really going to wow the audience. We’ll also have some ballet themes…so there’s something for everyone really.”

Tickets are $25, with concession tickets priced at $20, and students’ at $10.

Tickets are available at the Bacchus Marsh Florist, or online at Eventbrite under the ‘I Got Rhythm!’ event.

You can also purchase tickets at the door.