BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Welcome to Con Fuoco, CutCommon’s interview series with emerging musicians in Australia.
Tasmania’s Tom Dunbabin found his passion for music when he started piano lesson at five years old. Since then, he’s branched out and now plays viola, alto saxophone, and accordion.
The 18-year-old studies with Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra violist Nara Dennis, and plays with the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra’s flagship orchestra, as well as a variety of other ensembles ranging from string quartets to a big band. He enters local eisteddfods, and has performed for many local festivals such as the Festival of Voices, Hot August Jazz, Light up the Lane, and Ten Days on the Island. You might also catch him busking on the accordion or with a string quartet on Saturday mornings, entertaining locals and tourists at the Salamanca Market.
Tom was recently awarded a prestigious Australian National University Tuckwell Scholarship.
Your all-time favourite piece of music?
It depends on my emotions at the time. If I’m feeling melancholic, definitely Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings. It’s simple beauty and haunting melody never fail to elicit a very emotional response from me. It is a piece that I believe can never be fully done justice. If I’m feeling a bit more upbeat, I love listening to some of the classic jazz standards – Coltrane, Davis and Ellington being favourites among many greats.
Most memorable concert experience?
Singing with a choir at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Villers-Bretonneux in the Somme, representing Australia on a freezing French morning! A Tasmanian representative choir spent several weeks touring in France, which was one of the most fantastic and emotional of all the music experiences I’ve ever had.
Biggest fear when performing?
Pulling funny faces!
How do you psych yourself up for practice on a lazy day?
Assess need for practice, balance against other tasks, and normally decide that schoolwork wins. Sometimes, though, you just have to knuckle down and do it – whether it be upcoming exam or concert.
Most embarrassing moment on stage or in rehearsal?
There have been a few: dropped bows, forgotten entries, hitting microphones. But to trump all of those, the worst would have to be a bleeding nose I once got during a choir concert!
Best piece of musical advice you’ve received?
A favourite saying of my first saxophone teacher, given several years ago but repeated to this day, was: ‘Always go with the flow’. This has proven invaluable jazz advice. If I’m ever in a moment of doubt, I always remember to just go with it – things often turn out for the best. He had another gem as well, which I’m sure most musicians agree with: ‘Rhythm before intonation!’.
What’s your favourite thing to do after giving a concert?
Sleep! If it’s too early for that, head out with some friends for a meal to enjoy that post-concert buzz.
What are you most proud of in your musical career so far?
I’ve had a number of fantastic musical opportunities – performing several times for the Festival of Voices (singing and playing viola), playing for many years with the fantastic Tasmanian Youth Orchestra, being a regular at the Hot August Jazz Festival. A personal and special moment for me was being able to play solo saxophone at my grandmother’s funeral.
What do you love most about making music?
Being able to share the moment with others, those playing and listening. Oh, and the feeling of freedom during a great jazz jam session, when the improvisation inspiration is just flowing. Nothing else quite matches that euphoria.
What’s your ultimate goal?
To never stop making music, whatever my career.
See musicians of the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra perform in the Federation Concert Hall as part of the TYO at TSO Big Rehearsal this 26 August.
Images supplied, courtesy Michelle Forbes.
