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, Tanya Swinton (17), violin
My hometown
We moved from Singleton to Maitland towards the end of 2015 to minimise travelling to school.
Maitland is a regional city in the Hunter Valley, within half an hour from Newcastle beaches and the Pokolbin Vineyards. Maitland recently hosted Groovin the Moo.
We live in a quiet bushland estate on 1.5 acres, and have resident kangaroos there who often visit.
The commute
I have a two-hour lesson in Sydney every second Saturday, travelling by car with a four-hour round trip.
We stay overnight in Sydney in a rental apartment to avoid two trips to Sydney on the weekend, and catch up on homework and practice. We then drive to Strathfield for Sydney Youth Orchestra Philharmonic rehearsal on Sunday. On the alternate weekend, I catch the train from Hamilton to SYOP rehearsal, a 5-hour round trip.
This is my first year in SYOP, and I am also involved in Hunter Valley Grammar Symphony Orchestra, senior strings, quartet, and a piano trio. I have also accompanied HSC music students since I was in Year 6.
My opportunities
I look forward to working with many talented musicians, all driven to focus and work hard and advance our musical skills [in SYO this year]. We all play beautifully, and when we come together as an orchestra, and deliver the final product, it’s amazing. I love the repertoire, and the friendships I have made within the orchestra. It’s my family away from home.
How we can support young musicians living rurally
Travelling music workshops to visit rural communities, fundraising within the community to help students financially to attend music opportunities the city, and providing music scholarships.
My future
I hope to enrol in a Bachelor of Music majoring in performance at university. I plan to enter as many competitions as I can, and to use the feedback to improve my playing.
I would eventually like to study abroad, having many family members in Austria.
Advice for fellow commuters
Find a good teacher, even if it requires travelling long distances or, if possible, Skyping lessons. If you are passionate and enjoy playing, that’s half the battle.
Look into joining ensembles, and other musical groups. Apply for scholarships at your closest conservatorium. Audition for yearly music camps (i.e. SYO, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra), which are usually held in the school holidays. These are invaluable for your playing and a great way to establish connections with other musicians.
YouTube performances [help] to improve your musicality and technique. And, make a trip to the city, if you can, to see live performances of musician.
About Tanya
Tanya Swinton started violin lessons through the Suzuki method when she was four years old in Singleton. She has completed all levels of Suzuki.
Tanya is in Year 11 and has a music scholarship at Hunter Valley Grammar School, who she says has supported and encouraged her to apply for many programs. Last year, Tanya was a member of Newcastle Conservatorium Community Strings, and held a scholarship at Newcastle Conservatorium. She now undertakes violin tuition in Sydney and mentoring and support from Hunter Valley Grammar.
In January this year, Tanya attended the 2018 AYO National Music Camp in Adelaide for two weeks, playing first violin in the Gill Chamber Orchestra. She recently auditioned for the ACO Academy to be held in Melbourne in July and was successful. In August, she will perform as a soloist at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall as part of the Australian International Youth Culture and Music Festival.
See Tanya perform in the SYO’s European Winter on Friday 22 June at Eugene Goossens Hall. Book online. CutCommon subscribers receive discounted tix!
Image of Maitland, NSW. Nomad Tales via Flickr, CC2.0.
