Here we feature one member of the orchestra.
Please meet Bob Clunas - Second Violinist 

Bob Clunas
 Mature Age Student of the Violin
 Second Violinist
 
When I retired from a life of teaching maths in 2005, I decided to take up the violin. 
Juen Van Hand, the long-time Concert Master of Sinfonia and Principal Violinist, taught stringed instruments locally.  She was not daunted by a mature age student, and  was my teacher until 2017, when she injured her hand and could teach no longer.  Her enthusiasm and wonderful teaching ability inspired me to never give up.  During these twelve years of learning from Juen,  I watched with envy very young people come to her to learn, and whizz past me in their competence and appreciation of what the violin can do.
 
Despite this I really enjoy trying to make music on the violin.  And because of Juen’s encouragement and support, I became a member of Sinfonia.  The bi-monthly rehearsals in Taree have been an inspiration to me, although at times I have to earn "brownie" points from my wife to commandeer the car to get from Gloucester to Taree for that day.
 
My colleagues in Sinfonia are all very warm and accepting, ever willing to help out with tricky timing and bowing.  Our conductor, Iain Pole, gets the very best out of us which is possible. 
 
Apart from the rehearsals, Derek Bardwell (a cellist with Sinfonia) and I enjoy weekly private practices of the music from Sinfonia at home in Gloucester, my home town.
 
Gloucester’s musical tastes run predominately to country style,  so to have an outlet like Sinfonia for my lowly talent has been a gift.  I look forward to continuing with music for as long as I can, hopefully giving to the public who attend Sinfonia’s concerts something of the pleasure I have in playing the music.

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