Peninsula Symphonic Winds Orchestra Shows its Diversity

By Melina Paris, Music Columnist

While attending a rehearsal for Peninsula Symphonic Winds Orchestra, the last thing I expected to hear was Queens’ 1975 hit, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but that I did, and it was powerful.
The complexity of this song begs to be performed by an orchestra. The vocals were appropriately covered by the saxophone, the instrument perhaps most like the human voice. Considering the structure of this song, which consists of a ballad segment that ends with a guitar solo, an operatic passage and a hard rock section, it completely fits.

The local Peninsula Symphonic Winds Orchestra is made up of seasoned amateurs from college age to retirees.

Trombones, euphonium, trumpets, oboes, flutes, French horns, saxophones tubas, clarinets, bassoons and percussion or kettledrums make up this all-volunteer orchestra. Its recent rehearsal at Harbor College also included an electric bass for “Bohemian Rhapsody.” 

The orchestra performs four concerts during the year. Three performances take place at the Rolling Hills Covenant Church Community Center, on Silver Spur Road in Rolling Hills. The actual church is elsewhere in the city on Palos Verdes Drive North. 

“The Community Center is in a very funky old building with high ceilings and great sound,” Peninsula Symphonic Winds Orchestra Director Richard Babcock said. “It used to be a roller- skating rink and a movie theater; now (it’s) used for church services and community events.”
The orchestra rents the community center three times a year on Sunday afternoons. The fourth concert, “Picnic and Pops,” takes place outdoors, alternately between Peninsula and Palos Verdes high schools. 

Their repertoire is broad, playing concert band music, marches and show tunes. They do classical transcriptions of 19th century music, transcribed from orchestra to band. They also feature soloists, sometimes from the band, and sometimes guest soloists and conductors.

The Orchestra is working on a recording project now, a first time experience. The goal is to make it as good as possible. It will take place in the studio at Harbor College.  

“Hopefully, just hopefully, it will end up on iTunes and available to the public,” Babcock said.
They record all of their live concerts, but this is a different experience without the audience. They will not overdub it and hope to get it down in just one take. When that’s finished, their next project will be a jazz-themed concert including big band and swing music.

“This is a great place for young people—teenagers and people in their 20s—to get more experience playing.” Babcock said. “We play a lot of music and we play it hard. We don’t rehearse it a long time so they get to play a lot of music and experience different challenges.”
The Orchestra is good for retired folks, too.  

“They have this instrument they learned when they were younger,” Babcock said. “Then they got caught up in job and family and then, they get to resurrect that part of their life. I’ve seen and experienced some wonderful things with folks in that.” 

“For working people with a nine–to–five, they get to have that break in the middle of the week. You start thinking differently. Few people think like a musician in their regular day jobs.” 
Babcock teaches music at Chadwick School and he gets to do that every day with children, but when he comes here, it’s a different experience for him.

“It really helps in my life or in anyone’s life. It’s an oasis.”

Peninsula Symphonic Winds Orchestra originally performed at the Norris Theater. It was a great place for them, but very costly. They are completely self-funded and not attached to any government or school. They detached from Harbor College in 2003 and became an educational nonprofit 501(c)(3). The orchestra needs to always solicit funds and donations to keep going. 
“The Community Center is a great place and much cheaper,” said Babcock. “It works.”

The Orchestra will have its 20th anniversary concert a year from May. Babcock is a little surprised it has already been another decade. They are already rehearsing a piece for the celebration, which was commissioned for their 10th anniversary, “The Coast Is Clear,” by Tom Kahelin.
Euphonium player (among other instruments) and Random Lengths News photographer, Phillip Cooke is a member of the orchestra. 

“From day one I was amazed how talented the group is,” he said about the orchestra. “Despite being a smaller group, every instrument shines. I just wish we had more venues to play at.” 
Details: www.palosverdes.com/peninsulawinds