Musicians of sinfonia ViVA

Dan Storer
Principal Bass

On what makes sinfonia ViVA special...

I play with various chamber orchestras, each one having its own unique character. What marks sinfonia ViVA out is its atmosphere, which is friendly, relaxed and professional. Because the organisation is relatively small, there is good communication and never a feeling that we are part of a lumbering beaurocracy. There is a good attitude towards programming, in that we play standard repertoire but also perform new commissions, keeping music alive for the future. Also concerts often feature solo performances from members of the Orchestra which is a great opportunity for showing off the wealth of talent within it. The level of commitment in performance is always high and hopefully the audience can feel this energy.

On a typical day with sinfonia ViVA...

It is difficult to have a typical day with sinfonia ViVA, owing to its flexible nature. If we are doing a run of concerts then most likely we will rehearse in Derby, either at one of the local schools or in a rehearsal studio, the day before the first concert. This is usually quite intense in terms of concentration as we have to get through a lot of repertoire in a relatively short amount of time. I will often share a lift with one of my colleagues from Manchester and this helps the journey to Derby pass quickly. After the concerts it is good to have someone to share the journey so you can chat and have someone to keep you awake during the drive home.

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