BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
How can an artist represent a future generation?
Award-winning flautist Jemima Drews was recently tasked with the responsibility, being welcomed into the Southern Cross Soloist family as a Next Gen Artist.
This program was developed to give “support, instruction and encouragement to the next generation of musicians” through mentorship and industry experience.
It’ll all come together through a series of concerts at the Bangalow Music Festival, in which Jemima will have the opportunity to showcase her talents.
It may sound like a big deal to this third-year student of the University of Queensland, but with her impressive background, we reckon she’s got things ready and under control.
(After all, she already performs as principal piccolo for the Queensland Youth Symphony, principal flute for the UQ Symphony Orchestra, and has played as a fellow in the Dots+Loops Liminality festival.)
Jemima, you’re a Next Gen Artist with Southern Cross Soloists. Nice going! How’d you land the spot?
The Southern Cross Soloists came to the University of Queensland towards the start of the year and asked Anna Grinberg, our chamber music lecturer, to recommend some students for the program. I was incredibly lucky to be one of the few chosen!
What does it mean to be a Next Gen Artist, anyway?
Basically it’s our job to represent the Southern Cross Soloists in performance situations around Brisbane and the region. So far this year, that’s included collaborating on a show with Method X Dance School, performing at the Bangalow Music Festival launch, and for some of us, playing with the professionals in rehearsals or in QPAC concerts.
Later this year, we’re looking at establishing, administering, and performing in our own concert series in Kenmore.
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve picked up so far?
Always take a music stand!
Also, be prepared to work in short timeframes. In university, often we’re given quite a long time to prepare for performances, so we have lots of time with our teachers to develop every note of the music. In real-world situations, there’s not a lot of notice for repertoire and, as a result, you have to be ready to learn difficult music in a matter of days without any outside tutoring.
It’s intense, but it’s also incredibly rewarding!
The term “next generation” holds plenty of connotations about the future. What do you feel is in store for the next generation of artists in Australia?
I think Australia is getting more and more receptive to the arts, especially when the artists are thinking outside of the box.
While we all adore symphonies in the concert hall, more and more there’s a demand for chamber music that involves mixed media, dance, and mixing styles of music. I feel like Brisbane is doing an excellent job combining our traditional understanding of classical music with innovative new music through groups like the Southern Cross Soloists and Dots+Loops. And there’s something fresh and captivating when the music and art breaks stereotypes and shows something new, and I think this will really continue to take off in Australia.
So what’ve you got planned for us when you play at the Bangalow Music Festival?
It feels like we’ve been preparing a musical salad bar for this festival, there is so much variety!
For the festival prelude, we’re looking at everything from Ross Edwards to Faure to Piazzolla with some lesser-known composers in the mix as well.
The Next Gen Artists are also working on the Schools Concert. It’s going to be absolutely hilarious, and a fantastic opportunity for kids to get to know more about classical music.
Feeling nervous?
Absolutely! Playing at a festival where the artist line-up is so impressive is intimidating, to say the least. But I always make sure that I focus on doing the music justice, and really getting inside the story and emotions of the music itself, rather than worrying about nerves.
We’re rehearsing like crazy to be as prepared as possible, but looking after my health is helpful to make sure I’m my best shape mentally and physically for this big opportunity!
I was really taken aback by a sentence in your bio (which, by the way, is impressive): “Jemima aims to perform music in a vibrant and engaging manner to encourage her audiences love music as much as she does.” How would you encourage other musicians to keep hold of that passion for music, even when the career is so demanding on a daily basis?
This is such a good question, because it’s so easy to start thinking of music as just a job, and practising can easily become just a ritual. But there’s something super powerful about seeing live music. Attending energetic, soulful performances provides such an intense experience!
I believe as many people as possible need to hear music that’s performed by people who are driven, entertaining, and/or vulnerable. And, as a musician, I think I owe it to my audiences to try to create my own versions of the powerful experiences I’ve had while watching artists live.
Parting words?
Fun fact about the Bangalow Music Festival: when I was in Year 12, I attended the festival for the first time, and I had the most incredible experience as an audience member! It’s such a privilege to be asked to play there now, years later!
See Jemima at the Southern Cross Soloists’ Bangalow Music Festival, 9-11 August.
Shout the writer a coffee?
If you like, you can shout Steph a coffee for volunteering her time for Australian arts journalism. No amount too much or little 🙂
Pay what you like securely via PayPal.
Images supplied.
