Musicians Gather To Play Outside Window Of Dying Conductor
When needing a way to say thank you and final goodbyes to a beloved music conductor/educator, these instrumentalists formed a touching tribute. Over 70 musicians gathered to play outside the window of dying conductor, Richard Gill of Australia aptly named the “musical evangelist” for his ongoing fight to keep music in school and allow all children the opportunity to experience and love music.
The internationally known music educator and conductor had been struggling with cancer. When his colleague heard that Richard was in his final days, he knew just what to do. Organized in one night over social media, the musicians planned their musical send off. The impromptu orchestra of world-renowned musicians with the permission from Gill’s family, gathered with their instruments and stands directly in front of his family home. As they began to play one of Mr. Gill’s favorite pieces, a rendition of “The Dam Buster’s March”, the family opened up the doors and windows to the home. In his last moments, he was able to hear the piece played live once last time. So moving was this tribute that even the local NSW Police Band joined in while on their way to another gig!
The orchestra also played another of Gill’s favorites, “Waltzing Matilda” during their street concert. Richard Gill passed away Sunday morning just hours after the orchestra had serenaded him.
In a Facebook post by the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra their tribute wrote, “Like the fading of a beautiful sustained note, or that magical silence following a fabulous performance, a loss as significant as Richard Gill cannot be adequately explained or understood.” His work addressing the shortcomings of music education in Australia and the many organizations he founded, will surely instill a lasting legacy not just in Australia but internationally as well.
What a lovely tribute to a man that many knew and loved. While the concert was performed for such a sad moment, it really spoke to the lives that Mr. Gill had touched and how beautifully music draws us all together!