Ford Symphony Orchestra marks 90 years with a milestone concert at Cologne Philharmonic Hall
For nine decades, Ford employees and alumni have played together in the Ford Symphony Orchestra, and the group recently filled Cologne Philharmonic Hall to celebrate its 90th anniversary.
- 90
- 2,000
- 80
- 65 years
What Happened
The Ford Symphony Orchestra is a group of current and former Ford employees and music enthusiasts who are, in their words, driven by the joy of playing music together. It has existed for 90 years, and the article's author — a member of the second violin section who joined in 2008 — also serves as its General Manager. In that role they oversee operational matters ranging from budgeting and bookkeeping to concert planning with the Cologne Philharmonic and coordinating rehearsal spaces. A recent concert marking the 90-year milestone was held at Cologne Philharmonic Hall in front of 2,000 people.
90
The milestone was marked with a concert at Cologne Philharmonic Hall, a venue the orchestra says is a privilege to play even for professional musicians.
- Practice runs every Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm.
- About twice a year the group holds a weekend rehearsal that runs for 12 hours.
- Rehearsals take place in Ford canteens, cafeterias or training rooms.
- Those spaces are not acoustically treated for music, so high notes can sound sharp or out of tune and the limited room restricts seating and the view of the conductor.
“What really makes the orchestra so special though is that everyone who joins us loves music and loves to play. You can see the enjoyment on their faces when they come.”
The orchestra has about 80 musicians, and its line-up includes the usual orchestral balance of four French horns, two trumpets and three trombones. One fellow violinist has been in the orchestra for 65 years, which the author calls remarkable. The current chairman, who leads a board handling everything from finances to the choice of music, is a manager for Ford passenger electric vehicles and describes his role as helping balance the different opinions and wishes of the musicians, the conductor and the audience. As a second violinist, the author's own job is usually to provide harmonic support, accompanying the first violins and other sections when they carry the melody.
“It suited me fine, because it was glossy, golden and loud enough. Now I am very happy that I was 'tricked' into the French horn.”
The orchestra is heading back to Cologne Philharmonic Hall in October with a concert that takes the audience through a timeline of the last 90 years, and it wants a full house again. The author notes that every concert there is overwhelming, not just because of the venue but because the music and challenges are different each time. As General Manager, they say they feel the responsibility to keep the orchestra going and hope to help see it through to its centenary.
Why this matters
The orchestra gives current and former Ford employees an outlet for music that sits apart from their day jobs, and it has run for 90 years — long enough that one violinist has played in it for 65 years. It also puts staff on stage at Cologne Philharmonic Hall in front of 2,000 people roughly twice a year, a venue the orchestra says is a privilege to play even for professional musicians.
Terms in This Story
- second violin
- In a symphony orchestra, the second violin section usually accompanies the first violins and provides harmonic support.
- NVH
- Noise, vibration and harshness — the engineering area concerned with the sounds and vibrations a vehicle produces.
- French horn
- A brass wind instrument with coiled tubing that is a standard part of a symphony orchestra.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.