A friendship forged at music camps has resulted in an internationally respected musician playing with the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra. or signup to continue reading Joshua Oates has played in theatre orchestras in Germany and held principal oboe roles with the orchestra of Opera Australia, Queensland, West Australian and Adelaide. He has also worked with the Sydney and Melbourne symphony orchestras but it was a chance meeting with conductor Luke Severn that has Oates travel to central Victoria for a concert on Sunday, March 16.
"I met Luke in January last year when we were both tutoring at a music camp in Adelaide," Oates said. "Luke was also doing a conducting course at the music conservatorium and they work with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra who I play with. "We just got talking and he invited me over to play with the Bendigo orchestra and I said yes.
" Tthe was well known to Oates already. "They have a great public image on social media," he said. Oates arrived in Bendigo earlier this week to meet his fellow musicians ahead of Sunday's concert.
"I had my first rehearsal with them on Tuesday night and it was great to meet them," he said. "I had actually met four of the wind players before." Oates is no stranger to Bendigo, having previously played at Ulumbarra Thetare as guest oboist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and is looking forward to returning to the stage there.
"It's beautiful," he said of Ulumbarra. "And it's amazing a community orgecstra can fill out a big .
