It goes without saying that our chairman, David Alabaster is an enthusiastic musician; he has led the Orchestra’s ‘cello section for many years now. When I arrived at his home for this interview I found him in his workshop and it immediately became apparent that his creativity goes much further than ‘just’ performing. Current projects include a beautifully crafted loom and the restoration of a grandfather clock case. I also wonder how many of you here today are aware that he is playing on one of his own creations, namely Doris, his fourth cello?
David first picked up the ‘cello at secondary school and made reasonably rapid progress for three years or so, however he wasn’t enamoured with the gifted plywood instrument and it wasn’t until his late 30s that he was inspired to pick it up again. He soon treated himself to a much more rewarding French Mirecourt instrument. I am impressed by his sense of ambition when he says that he decided to take up lessons with Monica Hermolle to master the Dvorak cello Concerto! Rehearsing this with the orchestra as it worked up to a concert performance with the professional soloist was a musical highlight for him, as was the orchestra performing one of his compositions, The Mariner, in 1999. It was at Monica‘s suggestion that David joined the Stratford Symphony Orchestra about 30 years ago. Once he found his orchestral feet he took on the role of Principal. He tells me he became the Orchestra’s chairman on the day of his retirement as manager of his company’s R&D engineering department and is clearly not one to let talents lie fallow. David is still heavily invested in getting the most from his playing and has worked on many of the great repertoire pieces with his current teacher, Jenny Curtis, including Bach’s Chaconne and Saint-Saëns cello concerto. (Coincidentally the Orchestra is performing the Saint-Saëns with Mariatu Kanneh-Mason in March, so there may be further opportunities for David to rehearse and experience the exhilaration of playing with a full orchestra.) He, together with much of the rest of the ‘cello section, travel down to Suffolk annually for a weekend where there is much music making which features the occasional charity concert and further opportunities to expand the performing repertoire. David, and wife Jackie, have passed this love of music on to their 4 children, with all of them playing the piano and guitar (some of those guitars are his own creations) and here’s hoping this will also carry on to the next generation. Perhaps a 1/4 size cello is next on the list …?