Those who know me and/or have read my blogs before know that I am an orchestral player, to my core I’d say. I love interpreting orchestral parts combined with the directions of a maestro and blending my playing with my fellow orchestra musicians. I have been doing this for almost 40 years now, 30 years… Continue reading I’m just an orchestral bass player …
Author: Roxane Steffen
I am currently the Principal Double Bass with The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. I teach privately and play chamber music and solo recitals in and around Cape Town. And I ride my motorbikes around the Western Cape.
Where do we put the bass…???
In my last blog I had my little rant as a full time player in an orchestra about having to deal with being seated on a side where you are normally not seated which then feels like it’s the ‘wrong’ side. But what about when you play chamber music?? 🤷🏼♀️ At the moment of writing… Continue reading Where do we put the bass…???
On the ‘wrong’ side??
Over the centuries a standard was created concerning the set up of a philharmonic orchestra, specially the string sections. From left to right = from high to low. At the orchestras around the world where this is not the case they still have a regular set up and everyone is used to that. Enough space… Continue reading On the ‘wrong’ side??
To be continued … 🙂
This is what I write after every blog, but the continuation ended October 2023 ... As many readers know, as you are from Cape Town, my fabulous student Kyle Smith passed away in September 2023. I tried to hold myself up for as long as I could, pretending it just didn't happen helped for some… Continue reading To be continued … 🙂
Shoulder Killers
As a fulltime orchestra musician you always look out for the ‘new’ schedule which states what we will be playing in the coming months. Much happiness when your favorite piece is coming up or something you haven’t played before and you’re keen to play it. 🙌🏻🫶 Less happiness when you see a ‘shoulder killer’ …..… Continue reading Shoulder Killers
Journeys of the Soul
Journeys of the Soul is the name of the production that we're playing this week. It is a collaboration between Jazzart Dance Theatre & Phoenix Dance Theatre (Great Britain), Cape Town Opera & Opera North (Great Britain) and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and is a "thought-provoking and poignant expression of remembrance and rebirth in… Continue reading Journeys of the Soul
Who run the world … girls!
When I chose to become a bass player all those years ago in 1989 I was under the impression I was entering a profession that is a male dominating one which I was quite happy about as I tend to work easier with guys than with the ladies. Fast forward 30ish years and I share… Continue reading Who run the world … girls!
We all love a good success story!
Composer Matthijs Van Dijk discussing with soloist Jeffrey Armstrong and Maestro Brandon Phillips and the FDR with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. What a week! It started out lovely, then went to fabulous and ended effing amazing!! 🤩 In orchestra life you have your meh weeks, 🥱 , your ‘that was nice’ weeks 👌🏻 and… Continue reading We all love a good success story!
Shos 10 or Ben Ten
While enjoying the hospitality at the Suidoosterfees (which was taking place last weekend at Artscape Theatre) I reflect back at our symphony concert about 10 days ago where we played Shostakovich’ 10th Symphony. This symphony is just something else. It’s not just another piece of music, but it’s a full experience which takes you through… Continue reading Shos 10 or Ben Ten
The Show Must Go On! (and other famous last words…)
As I’m writing this I am hooked on to a drip in a hospital bed at Constantiaberg Mediclinic in Cape Town. I dragged myself to the ER early Thursday morning and haven’t left since, it’s Saturday, day before Easter. Let’s rewind 5 days ….. The week of Easter is usually a busy one for musicians.… Continue reading The Show Must Go On! (and other famous last words…)
Roxane Steffen 