Ulster Orchestra member retires with a ‘bash’

Ulster Orchestra has said goodbye to its long-standing Oboe and Cor Anglais player Colin Stark this month, following the orchestra’s Big Bassoon and Viola Bash on 21 May. Stark retires after 42 years performing with the orchestra, including four years as education liaison with its Learning and Community Engagement team.

Stark’s final performance with Ulster Orchestra came as part of the ensemble’s Endangered Instruments of the Orchestra project, run in partnership with Education Authority Music Service, which organises music education services in Northern Ireland. The project offers students from eight primary and post-primary schools weekly lessons on the bassoon, supplemented with regular visits from Ulster Orchestra bassoonists. Following the project’s success, the orchestra began a viola version of the initiative, reaching pupils from schools in the north coast, Newcastle and rural Newry areas.

Talking about the project, which saw all the bassoon and viola students come together for a playalong morning at Ulster Orchestra’s headquarters in Belfast and a midday performance at the neighbouring Townsend Street Church, Stark said: ‘This is such a rewarding project and all at the orchestra are delighted at its success and now this recognition. Bravo to a great partnership!’

Stark, who describes his retirement from the orchestra as his ‘third attempt’, is the driving force behind the organisation’s partnership with the Education Authority Music Service. As well as leading an additional partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, Stark has established an education programme including regular performance coaching and online and live workshops, as well as the Endangered Instruments of the Orchestra project.

Stark said: ‘UO players have engaged wonderfully with these and many other education and outreach initiatives, enriching greatly our contribution to the community and raising our profile locally and internationally.’

Having worked with Ulster Orchestra and with the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra in a freelance capacity since his last year at school, Stark studied Music and English at Queen’s University Belfast, and joined Ulster Orchestra full time after graduating with ‘no intention of staying long term’. He originally intended to retire at the end of the 2020 season, but postponed his retirement during the pandemic to join colleagues in ‘creating lots of diverse online content’ including the orchestra’s digital series Let’s Play at Home.

Throughout his time with Ulster Orchestra Stark has held roles from chair of players’ committee and temporary concerts manager to programme notes writer and presenter. Reflecting on his time with the ensemble, he said: ‘A cliché but true, it’s wonderful to have had a career in something one has enjoyed throughout.’