Why a Rusty Players’ showcase is so special

Say the word ‘showcase’ and it’s music to the ears for many Rusty Players’ members up and down the country. Looking back at the Rusty’s Halesowen Showcase earlier this year, here’s what makes the event stand out.

You can forget that there are many Rusty Player groups dotted around the UK, all meeting up in the same way every week to dust off their trumpets to flutes and rekindle their love of playing music. That’s until a Showcase brings all these enthusiastic musicians together in one room – and what a buzz it is

Over the past five years, the success of the community music organisation has seen it grow in popularity. So much so that the original South Birmingham Rusty Players now has many sister orchestras to connect with.

It’s not just nearby in the Black Country either, but as far afield as Wales in Barry Island and Carmarthen.

Back in April 2024, the long-awaited Rusty’s Showcase Concert was held at Halesowen Town Hall in the West Midlands.

As the stage filled up with sections of brass, strings and other instruments, there was a buoyant mood and good spirits. Most of all it was friendly as they all came together to revel in a love of playing, but also to socialise and get to know new like-minded people.

It was the first time that all four of the Rusty Players’ groups had joined forced to perform one joint concert in the same venue.

All those weeks of rehearsing separately would now be put to the test as they combined for a one-off performance under the stewardship of the then conductor Bradley Wilson.

Barry Island musicians even made the long journey in a minibus to reach the event and described how they were “very excited to meet all the different people”.

“Having all the orchestras together and that bigger sound is really, really good,” added a Welsh member. “This really is something else!

“I’d been longing to get back into an orchestra with that full sound. There’s people of all levels and as long as you can follow the music it doesn’t matter if you can play half the notes or not.”

For others, they felt a large concert gave more purpose to their playing and made them practise more.

Carmarthen Rusty’s member Kate Gladwin remembers the event fondly: “The Halesowen event was good fun and great to be part of a huge orchestra – even though we only just managed to fit on the stage.”

The 58-year-old flute player got involved with Rusty’s in 2023 as she’d not played in an orchestra for 43 years, when she was at school.  “I wanted to try the orchestra experience,” added Kate. “It’s very different playing in an orchestra rather than practicing by yourself but it’s very rewarding being part of a team.

“New members can expect a very warm welcome with help and encouragement from those with a little or lot of experience.

“I like being part of a group working together towards a single aim. It makes you feel great. It’s a good mood booster.”

Another player added: “It’s fabulous. It’s just lovely to get together, play with other Rustys and meet new people. You don’t get judged. It’s incredibly encouraging and people are just ‘Oh fabulous, you’re here’.”

From light classical music to a party mix of songs, the concert offered something for everyone of all ages.

Bradley, who was the conductor for the Halesowen Showcase and was also the augural Conductor in Residence with the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, explained the beauty of Rusty’s and the Showcase: “Once you get that instrument out and realise that you are in a really friendly environment where you can make as many mistakes as you want and do whatever you need to do to get yourself back to a good confidence level, you’ll have a wonderful time.”