Who Are We
Who are we? The Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle exists to encourage those who have been prevented from playing music together with others, either through lack of talent or some other factor, to rehearse and perform in an ensemble of similarly afflicted players.
We are modelled somewhat along the lines of the world-famous Really Terrible Orchestra (RTO) of Edinburgh, Scotland (q.v. http://thereallyterribleorchestra.com). The policy of the Really Terrible Orchestra of the Triangle, hereinafter known as the RTOOT, is to involve competent musicians in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area who are not quite competent enough to play with the Durham Symphony, the Raleigh Symphony, or the Chapel Hill Philharmonia. The RTOOT looks forward to a further lowering of standards, in order to underline its commitment to accessibility and relevance.
All ages, races, genders, and persuasions of instrumentalists are invited to join our ranks. In particular, if Mom played the viola in college and Dad played the clarinet, and Junior is playing the oboe in the middle school orchestra, make it a family occasion and enjoy playing together in an ensemble!! Just go to our “Contact RTOOT” page to sign up and request an audition.
Yes. There are auditions. We do not want players who are too competent. We want people who can play a hymn that has sixteenth notes in it (or the equivalent in non-liturgical music). And if we recognize the tune, you are good to go. Auditions are scheduled in July and August, and, true to our mission to be a Truly Triangle Terrible Orchestra, auditions will be held separately in Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill. Full details are found on the “RTOOT Players Retreat” page.
Professional musicians may be accepted into membership if they pick up something they’ve never played before and if they play it badly enough. For example, the concertmistress of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra is our second bassoonist. The Zachary Taylor Smith Term Professor of Music at UNC Chapel Hill is third flautist and piccolautist. His son is in the cello section.
Rehearsals are held weekly on Sunday afternoon in the Research Triangle Park at [TBA]. Mr. Hobgood is being very bullheaded about holding rehearsals in RTP rather than in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, or Durham, considering this Really Terrible Orchestra to be a Triangle-wide cultural gem.
Generally the RTOOT performs thrice a year, in Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, but is available at cost -- great cost -- for birthdays and corporate events.
Founder and Conductor of the Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle is W. Sands Hobgood, keyboardist and conductor in the triangle area since 1952. He has a legitimate job as a church musician but prefers that the associated institutions remain anonymous. Mr. Hobgood, in addition to his conducting activities, rearranges the hard parts for instruments that are incapable of performing them as written.
Mr. Hobgood has also appeared in films produced by the local collective 301 films (see 301films.com) and appeared in a major role in Fast Freddie Fantastic.
Furthermore, until the RTOOT achieves tax-exempt status and can hire someone competent, Mr. Hobgood also serves as the Really Terrible Webmaster....
Board of Directors
The Board Of Directors Of The Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle (RTOOT), otherwise known as the BODORTOOT, includes the following members (in alphabetical order):
• Associate Professor of Composition Allen Anderson of the Music Department of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Professor Anderson is Vice President of the Board
• W. Sands Hobgood, conductor, music director, and founder of The Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle (RTOOT), and President and Chairman of the Board
• Patti Jean Hicks, who comes to us from the farming community of Eli Whitney, NC and who was the Principal Associate on Mr. Hobgood's "Bless Your Heart Eastern European Concert Tour of 2001". Patti Jean is also principal trumpet in The Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle (RTOOT), and serves as secretary to the Board
• Florence Peacock, Diva Soprano of Chapel Hill, NC, and treasurer of the board.
• Douglass Little, who lives in Raleigh and conducts a middle school orchestra in Chapel Hill