BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Dedication.
It’s learning your parts. It’s developing your technique. It’s rocking up to rehearsal. In fact, for some, it’s embarking on an eight-hour round-trip to rock up to your rehearsal.
This is life for the young rural musician. In our new series Rural Commuters, we interview performers who have chosen to dedicate their time to travel across the state of New South Wales to attend their rehearsals and concerts with the Sydney Youth Orchestras.
What motivates them to journey so far? Why are they compelled to leave their towns to take part in the youth orchestra experience? What do they do along the way?
Let’s find out.
Rural commuter Joshua Reynolds (17), clarinet
My hometown
I live in Taree, Mid North Coast, NSW. I am in my second year of playing with the Sydney Youth Orchestras, as concertmaster of Symphonic Wind Orchestra. The only way I can get to these events, as there is no public transport suitable to me, is by driving.
During the commute
I travel four hours each way for rehearsals. I never feel pressured to travel because music is something I want to do, but the quality and passion of the musicians and students has helped me realise my ambition, and keeps me coming back every week.
I like to analyse the scores of the pieces I am playing, and see how my part fits in. However, on the odd occasion, I have had to do homework.
How can we support young musicians living rurally?
I feel that closer study of classical music in schools may give kids greater interest, as well as having more loan instruments available. I feel that regional tours exposing music and musicians will help kids further their understanding.
I am hoping to go to Sydney Conservatorium of Music next year. This will be an excellent opportunity to study music and will bring me closer to where the fun happens.
My future
I am hoping to have a career in music; specifically, playing in orchestras around the world. My favourite thing about being part of the orchestra is being able to find other musicians with the same passion, and developing friendships.
Advice to fellow commuters
Organise your time so that you can complete what you have to and get maximum enjoyment out of what you like.
About Josh
Josh attends year 12 at the Taree Christian College. Having started alto saxophone in year 7, he joined the Manning Valley Concert Band and Manning Valley Youth Band. At the beginning of 2015, Josh decided to branch out to clarinet and joined the Newcastle Youth Orchestra. This resulted in two hours of travel each way once a week for rehearsals.
Last year, Josh participated in the Sydney Youth Orchestra Summer School at the Sydney Conservatorium. After this, he was invited to audition for the SYO Symphonic Wind Orchestra. Josh joined the SWO as concertmaster, and the Peter Seymour Orchestra as first clarinet. His travel time now increased to an eight-hour round-trip each week. Josh studies with Frank Celata from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and has recently taken up bassoon with Melissa Woodroffe. Josh’s ambition is to have a successful career in music and play with international orchestras.
Join more than 500 young musicians and audition for the Sydney Youth Orchestras experience – wherever you may live in New South Wales. Applications open until September 22, more info on the SYO website.
Image of Maitland, NSW. Nomad Tales via Flickr, CC2.0.
