‘I always wanted to play Star Wars’ – how The People’s Orchestra lured in one of its longest-serving musicians
The force was strong with Annie Routley when she decided to become one of the first musicians to join The People’s Orchestra(TPO).
It was a long, long time ago – although not in a galaxy far, far away – when the viola player heard about a brand-new community orchestra starting up in the West Midlands, playing popular everyday hits from movies, shows and off the radio.
“I was attracted to TPO because of the repertoire – I had always wanted to play the Star Wars theme,” recalled Annie, a founder member of TPO when it started back in 2012.
Looking back, she has no regrets, adding: “Being in TPO has greatly enriched my life.”
Now, 13 years later, and Annie still has a passion for TPO concerts that she describes as “very varied gigs and big concerts”.
That’s because musicians get the opportunity to perform in not just historic and iconic venues but at unique events and even as part of flashmobs.
In the past year, the community orchestra has entertained audiences at revered concert venues from Birmingham Symphony Hall to London’s Duke’s Hall at The Royal Academy of Music. Yet TPO is also about to perform at the hugely popular and world-famous Comic Con events twice this year – among many Star Wars fans.
TPO return to the Midlands Comic Con at Birmingham NEC to perform on July 12 at 3.30pm and again with the People’s Big Band on November 30. No doubt, a certain intergalactic film soundtrack will be on the set lists.
While Annie’s life and work revolves around music, TPO offers her something very different in her own time.
Working with Christian Music Ministries, Annie, in her late 60s, spends her days typesetting or orchestrating and arranging for instruments and voices. When she relaxes with the TPO, she gets to play John Williams’ sensational Star Wars score alongside light-hearted pop hits and other blockbuster soundtracks.
“I love the repertoire that’s mostly exciting film scores,” added Annie.
“We’ve been a cinema surprise pop-up orchestra for The Hobbit [in the past] and performed at Comic Con and much more.”
“We have far more woodwinds and brass than most orchestras, and less string players,” said Annie, as one of the string section. But she adds that “there is always good camaraderie” between all the orchestra members.
Another new addition since Annie first started is the launch of The People’s Show Choirs(TPSC). The singers from across the country now also regularly join orchestra members making the TPO extended family even bigger. It’s something that Annie has enjoyed accompanying at events even more.
Annie may have joined with a new hope for musical adventures all those years ago, but it seems that as a founding member, she has also helped a force awaken in the success of TPO.
If you’re a musician who would like to play movie soundtracks from Star Wars to The Hobbit and Back To The Future for fun, find out more about The People’s Orchestra and its bands here or singers can check out The People’s Show Choir here.
