Mountbatten's week! Up early for the twenty or so trainees that are performing at the MFM to load the wagon to travel down to the Portsmouth Guildhall, we are rehearsing for the next two days. We were all rehearsing together for the first time today. This was a brilliant experience for the people playing from the school, our first experience of playing in a massed band. As a trumpet/cornet player I was at the back of the hall, so from where I was it all sounded like a big noise, which I am sure, it was not. All day was spent rehearsing which was quite tiring, we were then told that we had to go back again in the evening. Upon completion it was time to visit our nearest and dearest watering hole, which was quite busy, then off to bed.
The next day was also rehearsing and polishing most of the pieces off. I am sure all the second cornets will be quite deaf by the end of the week as we are sat in front of the solo cornets, they are all really 'quiet' players!?!?
Wednesday morning we had a small lie in and then the convoy of five coaches were off to London to the Royal Albert Hall for more rehearsals. Much of the afternoon was spent setting lights and sound up and then a full run through after dinner.
Thursday was the day of the first performance. It was good to see the Albert Hall so full after the gig was so uncertain to take place. There I sat on the stage for my first Mountbatten Festival of Music. I felt a bit sorry for the people who were fire fighting and off elsewhere in the world. The evening went well and the audience were very appreciative and hopefully so was HRH Prince Philip.
Both Friday and Saturday's performances went well if not better than Thursdays. After Saturday's concert all the stage had to be de-rigged and put onto the transport, then all back to Portsmouth. On our return a few trainees unloaded the wagon back into Portsmouth Bandroom. We finally got to bed around 2am. We had the rest of the weekend to relax after the tiring but very enjoyable week.
This week showed us what our job is going to be about after training and it
was a fantastic insight. It gave us all something to keep working for.