Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

As I write, it is Monday 19 December and a very dark, wet morning. The National Orchestra of Wales has only two days left to work before the Christmas holidays begin and, much as I enjoy work, I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am.

Since September the orchestra has performed over 30 concerts, a good proportion of them live, and put in more recording hours than I care to think of right now. In our last project for 2011, we will be recording music by Floren Schmitt and Arthur Honegger with conductor Pascal RophΓ©, but as the end of the year approaches, I think it is fitting to have a little think back on the 2011/2012 season so far.

A number of people in the Orchestra have said that our education concerts, co-ordinated by our Education team in collaboration with Andy Pidcock and conductor Grant Llewellyn, were without a doubt one of their season highlights.

Claire Whitson (double bass) felt that Beethoven's Symphony No 9 with Thierry Fischer was one of her highlights, as the opportunity to perform it doesn't come around every day and the bass part is, by all accounts, rather epic.

I am in agreement with Amy McKean (oboe) - our concert with François-Xavier Roth, Tim Hugh, Lawrence Power and François Leleux was a definite highlight. One of the best things about our job is having the opportunity to meet and work with other musicians whose playing, or approach to music making, inspires you. Our section was delighted to have the opportunity to work with Lawrence Power again, someone who has been such a fantastic advocate of our oft maligned instrument - a gentleman and a fabulous musician.

Few who were in St David's Hall that evening would have failed to be uplifted by Leleux's performance of Strauss' Oboe Concerto and for me, hearing Tim Hugh play was a great experience. He is someone who has managed to simultaneously maintain careers as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician and that in itself (as well as begging the question, when does he sleep?), is a fairly jaw-dropping achievement.

There are many things to look forward to in the New Year; fresh challenges, new people to work with, new music to discover. I'm looking forward to hearing Shabaka Hutchings in January - it will be really interesting to hear him perform Copland's Clarinet Concerto, a concerto synonymous with the jazz virtuoso Benny Goodman. There is also Tchaikovsky with Tadaaki Otaka!

Right now however, I'm looking forward to some time off; time to catch up with family, time to recharge the batteries. It really has been a very busy winter season and I feel like I have reached the end of my productivity abilities for 2011.

I wish you all a peaceful Christmas, however you choose to celebrate it, and a very prosperous New Year.