As Squawkestra prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary, there is no better person to reflect on the journey than Peter Blackwood, our longest-serving member, who has been playing violin with the orchestra for 19 years.

When Peter first joined, Squawkestra looked very different.

“It was very small back then,” he recalls. “We didn’t have saxophones, there was one flute, one clarinet and a couple of violas. Our very first concert was in the Darebin Library on a Saturday afternoon.”

The orchestra was inspired by the Edinburgh Really Terrible Orchestra, and in those early days the sound lived up to the name.

“It was definitely more squawky back then,” Peter laughs.

Peter’s own musical journey began unexpectedly. When his son, a talented violinist, moved overseas, Peter inherited his music books and decided to teach himself to play.

“I’ve never had a lesson,” he says. “I was recovering from knee surgery when I heard Ed Le Brocq, formerly known as Emma Ayres, talking about Squawkestra on ABC Classic. I thought I’d give it a go.”

One of Peter’s earliest memories is spotting the much-loved musician and broadcaster arriving to teach a strings Masterclass in unforgettable style.

“After that first library concert we all went to the pub. Emma arrived on her bike with a cello strapped to it.”

Over nearly two decades, Peter has seen Squawkestra move from a school hall in Northcote to the Uniting Church on High Street before finding its home on Bent Street. But while venues and membership numbers have changed, the orchestra’s culture remains its greatest strength.

“It doesn’t happen in every music group you join,” he says. “People learn from one another and look out for one another. Someone will quietly help you find your place if you’re lost or let you know of changes in the music. It’s not competitive, it’s collaborative.”

Peter believes that spirit continues under Musical Director and Conductor, Carl Polke.

“Carl always encourages us to play the best we can, and he’s very gentle in the way he does it. He doesn’t expect us to live down to our name.”

One of Peter’s favourite memories came when Squawkestra appeared on the TV show Spicks and Specks.

“We were chatting with other guests and were asked about what other gigs we’d done. At that point, we could proudly say, ‘We’ve played the Darebin Library!’ It was such a fun day.”

Today, Peter continues to play violin, sing, paint and teach painting. While age and health challenges have changed what he can do physically, Squawkestra remains an important part of his life.

For Peter, the orchestra’s 20th anniversary represents something much bigger than a milestone birthday.

“It means there’s a place in Melbourne where adults of all abilities and experience can come together and play in an ensemble,” he says. “For many people, the last time they did that was at school.”

Two decades on, Squawkestra remains a rare and special part of Melbourne’s musical landscape: an orchestra where complete beginners, returning players and experienced musicians sit side by side, learning, laughing and making music together. In a world that often values perfection, Squawkestra celebrates participation, connection and the joy of playing as an ensemble. For Peter, as for so many other members over the past 20 years, that’s what keeps people coming back.

You can see Peter and all of Squawkestra play at the Melbourne Town Hall on June 17 at 2.30pm. Tickets can be purchased here – https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1570204