Musicians of sinfonia ViVA

Martha Ann Brookes
Principal Trombone

On what makes sinfonia ViVA special...

The people: you always know you are going to play with some great musicians. Also, because of having a core group of musicians, you are going to perform with people who you have played with on many occasions, so there is a sense of instant musical 'gelling' together because you know each other well personally and musically. Also, we often perform chamber music, or pieces that involve a small group of players. It can be very intimate, intensive, scary even, but always enjoyable.

On a typical day with sinfonia ViVA...

Well, it would probably be teaching from 8.30am-12.30pm in Birmingham, then an hour's drive along the A38 (hopefully with no hold-ups and also a parking place on the open car park at the back of the Assembly Rooms!). A cup of tea is next on the agenda (Matthew Lax always has the urn on the go - very important!) and then get prepared for the rehearsal. The meal before the show is always the trumpets and trombones (and possibly tuba) at the Wetherspoons pub around the corner from the stage door! Go and do the gig, and back to B'rum.

On personal fulfilment through involvement with ViVA outreach and education projects...

I have been fortunate to take part in quite a few education projects, both on trombone and last year on accordion (when a jaw injury meant I had to stop playing the trombone for 18 months). I particularly enjoyed taking part in the Under 5's Derbyshire Libraries project - meeting some great kids, lovely librarians who were keen to make libraries a positive place to go to, and also enjoying the wonderful Derbyshire scenery. Also, I've just visited some children's hospices and hospitals. Not one of the easiest projects to do, but extremely rewarding. It was good to give moral support to the patients, their families and to the staff who work so tirelessly in this very demanding branch of caring.

Read full biography (PDF document)