BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Have you ever wondered what life is really like in the orchestra? Welcome to EXPOSED!
In 2018, we continue to team up with musicians and arts administrators from the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra to take you behind the scenes, and show you what it means to pursue a career in a challenging and fulfilling industry.
We’re excited to bring you our first interview of the year, featuring Jonathan Békés!
Jonathan started playing cello at 10 years old and has studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Australian National Academy of Music. He has learnt with cellists such as Howard Penny, Julian Smiles and Susan Blake; and won numerous awards for his performance including the ANAM Director’s Prize, and First Prize in the ANAM Chamber Competition. He is recipient of the 2016 Accenture Australia Scholarship, the Sydney Conservatorium’s Corinna d’Hage String Scholarship, and has attained his AMus and LMus, both with distinction.
Jonathan is in great demand as a performer, chamber musician and teacher across Australia and has taken his cello across the world, having performed across four different continents. He is a founding member of the world renowned Estivo Trio and plays regularly with the Australian World Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan has performed chamber music alongside Anthony Marwood, Stephan Dohr, Ole Bøhn, and Timothy Young and has performed in masterclasses for Steven Isserlis, Pieter Wispelwey, Nicholas Aldstaedt and Alban Gerhadt.
Jonathan has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras around Australia including the Sydney Youth Orchestra and the Beecroft Orchestra. In 2011 he played for a full house at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall as part of the HSC ENCORE program.
In his spare time, Jonathan is a passionate Sydney Swans supporter and a committed Hobart Hurricanes enthusiast. He is a keen squash player, an avid golfer and loves to get outside to go hiking and mountain biking.
How did you make your way into a position with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra?
I applied for the position when it popped up and then did a heap of work on the excerpts and pieces and, luckily for me, I played well on the day. But I do think that landing a job like this is the result of many years hard work. The experience I got playing in orchestras such as AYO and SYO and doing casual work for TSO, MSO and SSO was invaluable. Practising orchestral excerpts for previous auditions and performing often in a sterile audition-like atmosphere was extremely beneficial as well.
You can never truly feel comfy in an audition. But the more you’ve practised in those kind of conditions, the more used to it you will be.
What did you imagine life would be like with the orchestra – and what’s it really like now that you’re living it?
I imagined it to be pretty similar to what it is. It’s great to work through such a large range of repertoire in a short space of time. Having a new symphony or two to learn every week is a great challenge and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.
How would you describe your typical day backstage and in the rehearsal room?
At the start of the day, keen to get started. At the end of the day, very tired and looking forward to dinner!
It takes it out of you, rehearsing each day, but it’s well worth it. I have a few projects on the side as well, both solo and chamber, so there’s plenty to practice. I do my private practice early in the morning each day and try to keep my afternoons and evenings free where I often play sport and keep active (aka – stay vaguely sane).
Was there ever a time you thought the challenge of your role inside the orchestra would be too great?
Not really.
What do you feel are the strongest expectations placed on you in this role?
In a small section, I feel my role is about finding the balance between contributing to the sound and blending to the section. I would say the job is to listen carefully – listen to this blend, listen to the group intonation, listen across the orchestra, etc.
How do you cope with live performance pressure?
I find playing in orchestra not too stressful these days, which is great and means I enjoy the concerts even more.
But for solo playing, I have coped by finding and training reliable techniques that work in the moment. And then practising a lot in the moment! Performance practice is essential.
I also find establishing a healthy pre-concert/audition/performance routine is extremely helpful to put you in the right headspace.
How would you describe the chemistry in your instrumental section, and how do you work to support each other in your small team?
It’s great and it’s a wonderful learning experience to be part of a working cello section. It’s interesting, because there’s a significant mix of characters in the section but we work well as a team and there is a real sense of honesty and openness in our interaction. They’re a great bunch. It’s also nice to have my old teacher in there alongside me – Martin Penicka.
What do you wish audiences could understand about what it means to play in the orchestra?
I wish audiences truly understood the time that goes into every performance and the effort that goes on behind the scenes.
What is the thing you love most about life in the orchestra?
Two things- firstly, I love the music: the repertoire and the speed at which you move through it all. Secondly, the community feeling: TSO has a wonderful vibe and the people in the orchestra have been so welcoming and generous to a newbie like me.
What is one piece of advice you can offer young musicians looking to commence their orchestral career?
Get involved. Regardless at what stage or age you’re at, join an orchestra. Whether it’s your local youth orchestra (for me it was the Fisher’s Ghost Youth Orchestra) or your state youth orchestra or the Australian Youth Orchestra, etc. It’s really something you learn from first-hand experience, and I would definitely say a better orchestral musician would make a better solo and chamber musician. And, of course, it’s just great fun: an awesome opportunity to meet like-minded people and establish life-long friendships.
Catch the musicians of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven Emperor Concerto at 7.30pm this March 9.
We partner with the orchestra to take you behind the scenes in EXPOSED! Be sure to check back in again in for our next interview to learn more about life in the orchestra!
