Welcome to Con Fuoco, our interview series with emerging artists in Australia.
It’s Jenna Smith’s second year as a trumpet fellow in the SSO Fellowship program. Jenna completed her Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours in 2016, studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Andrew Evans. While a student, she received the Ted and Susan Meller Memorial Scholarship, the James Witheford Foundation Award for Brass, and the Busby Musical Scholarship. She also played in masterclasses for musicians such as Håkan Hardenberger and Markus Wursch.
She has performed with Sydney and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, Opera Australia Orchestra, and SSO Sinfonia. In 2016, she was also a member of the Australian World Orchestra’s Academy Program and toured to Singapore.
Jenna has participated in Australian Youth Orchestra programs since 2012 and performed as AYO principal trumpet in 2017. She has also been a member of the Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute.
Your all-time favourite piece of music?
Really tricky question! I absolutely love Mahler symphonies. Mahler 2 is probably my favourite.
Biggest fear when performing?
My biggest fear when performing is making a mistake, because it’s nearly impossible to hide as a trumpet player.
Most memorable concert experience?
My first time performing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was in a Disney Fantasia program. I’m a huge Disney fan and was first introduced to orchestral music through Fantasia. It was like a dream come true – I was positively beaming at the end of the concert!
How do you psych yourself up for practice on a lazy day?
I love to get my practice done early on in the day so that I’m free to do whatever I want.
Most embarrassing moment on stage?
I’m not sure if this counts as an embarrassing moment, but during a performance on Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp in 2013, I was playing second trumpet in Schoenberg’s arrangement of Piano Quartet No. 1 by Brahms. And, in anticipation of the finale, the first trumpet shuffled their chair back without realising there was a gap in the rises on stage. Their chair fell into the gap, and they had to perform the rest of the piece in a squat! It was very hard not to laugh into my trumpet.
Best piece of musical advice you’ve received?
I was once told that when listening to a performance, no one wants to hear a trumpet technician, they want to hear a musician.
Favourite post-gig ritual?
I don’t think I have one, but maybe having a Milo?
What are you most proud of in your musical career so far?
This is my second year as the SSO trumpet fellow and I have to keep pinching myself every time I get to play with the SSO, because it’s an amazing orchestra to be a part of.
What do you love most about making music?
I love the endorphins that kick in when everyone seems to be on the exact same wavelength.
What’s your ultimate goal?
My ultimate goal is to have a full-time orchestral job in Australia – preferably near a beach!
See Jenna perform in SSO Fellows Intimate Voices, 3pm April 29 at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. Expect cider and chamber music!
Image and bio courtesy SSO. Jenna captured by Keith Saunders.
