Brothers make concert comeback after 50 years

The Fernando family share a love of music

Two brothers have performed in a concert 50 years after they both played at an inaugural event.

Marcus Fernando, a trumpeter, and his brother Paul, who plays trombone, were among the musicians who marked the 50th anniversary of Guernsey's Elizabeth College Summer Orchestral Course (ECSOC) at the weekend.

As children, they were both among those who took part and performed at the end of the very first course held in St Peter Port in 1975.

Marcus said it came as "a bit of a surprise" when the ECSOC contacted him about performing in the celebration, along with his brother, 50 years later.

The ECSOS is a week of intense musical rehearsals followed by a series of concerts at the end of the week.

The 50th anniversary events included a jazz concert on Friday, a wind band and orchestral concert on Saturday and the 50th anniversary gala concert with former students on Sunday.

It was the first time Marcus, 63, and Paul, 65, had played together in more than 40 years. Marcus said the orchestra also included two of his school teachers.

"It's amazing to think that I am near retirement and I was playing alongside two of the people who taught me A-levels."

Marcus said his son Sebastian, also a trumpeter, had also followed the family tradition by taking part in ECSOC this year.

"At the age of 13, he has joined the course at almost the exact age when I was first part of it, but 50 years on. The main difference: he's a much better trumpet player than I was at that time," he said.

He added his 86-year-old mother Phyllis was delighted to see her two sons play together again.

Marcus said he had clear memories of taking part in the course as a young teenager 50 years ago.

"I can still remember my thoughts as a trembling novice trumpeter attending that first ever Elizabeth College Summer Orchestral Course, alongside my brother on trombone. I have become part of a piece of history," he said.

He said it had been more than 40 years since he and his brother had played together.

"We've both kept playing our instruments during the intervening years: Paul with the Guernsey Concert Band, and me with The Soul Connection Soul and Blues band but we've not played any Classical for years.

"Rehearsing together again really was winding the clock back."