BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Maraika Smit has been named the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s new Rising Star.
The young horn player first picked up the instrument at 14 while a student at Taroona High School. She has since joined the ranks for gigs with the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra, Hobart Chamber Orchestra, Tasmanian Theatre Company, and Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute.
The muso is in her third year of a Bachelor of Music at the University of Tasmania, and will perform with the TSO on August 24.
You started playing horn when you were 14. What drew you to this instrument above others?
The first time I saw or heard a Horn was when I was 11 at one of TSO’s kids’ concerts. It must have made an impression, because when I was asked what instrument I wanted to play in grade 7, I asked to play the horn but was told it was too hard so I was given a trombone!
After a year, I still wanted to play the horn so I switched over. I love its unusual shape and the vast variety of tone colours.
Having studied lessons with TSO horn player Roger Jackson already, what impression do you have of what it’s like to play inside an orchestra?
Having lessons with Roger and Geoff Lierse at TSO has given me a wonderful impression of what it’s like to play in an orchestra. The TSO always has a positive friendly atmosphere. It will be amazing to play music with so many amazing musicians.
What have you felt is required of you as a young musician in order to succeed in Tasmania?
Being a young musician in Tasmania can often feel quite limiting, as we often don’t have enough young musicians to play in full orchestras or complete ensembles. TYO, however, does a great job in bringing together many of our young musicians and I found it incredibly beneficial in becoming familiar with standard orchestra repertoire.
AISOI was by far my most memorable musical experience: to play such amazing repertoire, like Strauss’ Alpine Symphony and The Rite of Spring, with so many talented musicians from all around Australia doesn’t happen very often in Tasmania. I think to be successful as a young musician in Tasmania, you have to be willing to play in anything and take every opportunity you can find, although like anything hard work and dedication always pays off.
What’s been the toughest challenge in your musical career so far?
I have only been playing for seven years, so my musical career has been quite short. However, I find dealing with self-doubt and persevering through times when it feels as if you are achieving nothing is always quite difficult.
Where would you like your TSO Rising Star experience to help propel you into the future? What are your goals?
I’m incredibly excited to play Mozart’s fourth horn concerto with the TSO! I’m hoping this experience will help me gain greater confidence in performing, and become better acquainted with the processes involved when a soloist performs with professional orchestras.
My dream is to become a professional horn player, but for now my main goal is to love playing my horn and see where it takes me.
What advice would you give to other young musos looking to enter this competition, or similar competitions?
Well, you have to be in it to win it! Other than that, just enjoy playing the music rather than focusing on technical details and the competitive aspect.
See Maraika Smit perform as part of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in The Snowman, 6pm August 24.
This story is featured in Warp Magazine, August 2017.
Images supplied.
