A UNIQUE group of amateur musicians in Ivybridge is looking for more members to join them.

The Ivybridge Beginners and Returners Orchestra began around 18 months ago, when a small group of four or five people started to meet and play in a living room.

Instead of advanced musicians who had played at the highest level, the group was composed of those that had a neglected instrument under the bed, or who had not been playing for long, but nevertheless wanted to play as a group in a relaxed, inclusive setting.

Original member Barbara Wintersgill explained that before long, the idea had become so popular that the group outgrew the living room, moving to St John’s Church hall to practise. Now, the orchestra rehearses at St Austin’s Priory and The Watermark.

The most important development, though has been the recruitment of Ugborough retired music teacher Ian Hiscock as director of music. According to Barbara, Ian has made the group into ’a real orchestra’.

Cellist Susan MacDonald hopes more musicians can be encouraged ’out of the closet’ to join the group. She said: ’I’m 55 years old and I  started playing the cello about six years ago. My first teacher was Mike Edwards of the Electric Light Orchestra who died in a tragic accident a few years ago. When I began, I knew nothing about music and I certainly couldn’t read it, though I still find the latter a challenge.

’Recently I had to spend some time working in London and while there, I became a member of the East London Late Starters Orchestra, which improved my playing and made me realise the joy of playing with others.

’When I came back to Devon, I found that my playing standard was still not good enough for local orchestr - that was until I found out about the beginners and returners orchestra.

’It is a sociable but challenging hobby, and although some people may feel anxious that they are not ’good enough’ because they haven’t played for years or haven’t been playing for long, they should come along a give it a go.

’We may not sound great individually, but playing together as a group, as an orchestra, we can create something positive.’

The group is particularly keen to recruit an oboe and flute, more brass players, and more first violins who can play at around grade five or six level. But new players of any instrument or level are welcome.

For more information, get in touch with Barbara by emailing [email protected].