BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Imagine a place you could spend two weeks making music, making friends, making connections you’ll keep forever. Making the time of your life.
This is the purpose of the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp — to have an absolute blast getting to know the people you’ll be working with as you make your way through the music industry. You learn from the best as you gear up to perform in some ripper concerts.
It’s almost time for the 76th NMC, which will feature 220 young musicians from across Australia, with Ariel Zuckermann and Toby Thatcher conducting the symphony orchestras as Sophie Rowell leads the chamber orchestra. If you’re not taking part yourself, then you’ll be able to kick back and listen to what the next generation of classical music has in store for you. Seven concerts will take place across 13-20 January in Elder Hall, University of Adelaide.
We caught up with Clare Fox (above), who worked her way through the AYO programs to achieve the leadership role of principal clarinet between 2020-22, having started her AYO journey back in 2018. The ANAM Concerto Competition finalist and casual musician for major Australian orchestras tells us what NMC has given her professionally and personally — including some of the best musical memories of her life.
Clare, thanks so much for the chat! I’d love to kick off by asking, what draws you back to these AYO programs again and again in your career?
My teacher during my undergraduate degree, Chris Tingay — Sydney Symphony Orchestra second clarinet — is an alumni of AYO, and had always strongly encouraged me to audition. He spoke of the strong impact participating in AYO had on his career and knew it would do the same for me. He was right!
I took part in my first National Music Camp in 2018, and I remember coming away from it completely blown away and inspired, determined to do it the following year. It is a feeling that has never changed coming away from every AYO program I have done, and they have been the best weeks of orchestral and chamber music playing I have had in my life. It has become a central and formative part of my musical career.
There’s really nothing else like it in Australia. What were some of the highlights that made you feel this way?
There certainly isn’t anything like it in Australia! From 9am-9pm for two weeks, your life is totally dedicated to making music with your peers, to the highest standard.
A big highlight for me would be getting to perform orchestral and chamber works with the friends made over the fortnight. Everyone has put so much hard work into getting the repertoire to the highest standard possible, and you get to share it with all the tutors and musicians.
The staff chamber music concert would also have to be one of my favourite parts of NMC, getting to hear a wide range of works performed by professional musicians working across Australia and around the world. Given the majority of the tutors work in orchestral jobs, it is an opportunity to hear them play in a more intimate setting, performing works often not traditionally programmed.
I always came away from those concerts in awe, and inspired to be able to play at the standard they set.
How do you feel NMC was different to the other AYO programs you attended over the years?
NMC is the longest program AYO offers, aside from tour, with the most jam-packed schedule. There is significant time dedicated to individual instrument and section tutorials in conjunction with the orchestra rehearsals, so you have the rare opportunity to spend ample time working on the intricate details of the repertoire to get it to the highest standard possible.
The tutors on all the camps I have attended have been incredible, and gone above and beyond in their roles to mentor us through this process. They would even sit in on our orchestral rehearsals regularly throughout the weeks to continue to assist us. This level of mentorship is something that I have never experienced anywhere else, and had a huge impact on me and my orchestral playing skills.
From a social perspective, two weeks really gives you a chance to properly get to know your peers, especially the ones you are playing with. By the end of camp, it feels like you have been playing as a section forever!
I feel like almost every participant has a story about the way their own NMC experiences have changed them. What were some of the realisations you had about a music career, which you’d picked up from those intense weeks in NMC?
Participating in NMC reaffirmed my absolute love and passion for music, and that I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else as a career. It also inspired me to push myself in my own playing, having spent two weeks surrounded by hundreds of musicians in completely different stages of their careers.
I had never heard of the Australian National Academy of Music until I went to my first NMC, and after hearing other musicians talk so highly of it, I decided to audition. Camp really is a melting pot for inspiration and discovering the infinite types of career paths available as a musician. The tutors of course are also a huge part of this, and have so much experience and advice to offer, whether it be a chat during morning tea or during a tutorial.
NMC is of course filled to the brim with Australia’s best young players. As someone who has taken part, how would you describe the culture of this collection of musicians and mentors — especially when the goal is to train for a competitive industry?
The culture of NMC is one filled with enthusiasm, positivity, and total commitment to music. Everyone is there to have fun with a common goal of performing music to the highest standard. It is a true team effort.
I remember being quite nervous on my first camp, but from the very first rehearsal felt at ease from the friendliness of my peers, and encouragement of the tutors. It is the best environment you could ask for to be making music in!
What is your most memorable experience of your time in NMC?
You will never find a more enthusiastic audience in the world than at NMC Concerts, thanks to all your peers sitting upstairs at the back of Elder Hall. The atmosphere is absolutely buzzing with enthusiasm throughout the building, and I always felt so excited to perform. Everyone has worked so hard throughout the week, and is ready cheer each other on and enjoy the incredible music.
I will never forget doing my very first escape room with the clarinets on NMC 2020 with our tutor Dean Newcomb — Adelaide Symphony Orchestra principal clarinet. Dean insisted we do the hardest level there was, and we failed miserably, but it was absolutely hilarious and a great way to get to know each other outside of playing music.
What did being part of AYO teach you about being a principal player in an orchestra — especially when you’ve worked with principal players such as Dean?
I learnt so much from the tutors about what to be listening for at all times, and the confidence to interact with the other principals, the concertmaster, and the conductor. It really helps that you have spent two weeks socialising with everyone outside of rehearsals.
By the end of the camp, I felt that the connections across the sections of the orchestra were quite tight with strong communication.
At the end of the day, why do you think participation in AYO programs like NMC has given you a step up into the industry?
NMC gave me the experience of rehearsing and performing orchestral music at the highest standard in a completely supportive and positive environment. I always left camp feeling much more confident in my playing.
The peers you meet and play with will stay in your life, and you will be forever crossing paths with them. It is really comforting when playing in professional orchestras to lock eyes with other musicians who you have played with or been tutored by on camp. You have that shared experience of spending two weeks having so much fun making music on camp, and that connection always comes through in the music.
Every single professional music opportunity I have ever had has involved at least one fellow NMC participant or tutor!
What advice would you give to musicians to help them make the most of their time at NMC?
It’s a marathon, not a sprint — so pace yourself and make sure you get sleep! You want to be able to enjoy the full two weeks and make the most of such a precious opportunity.
It is really hot in Adelaide in January, so make sure to keep hydrated. And if you’re looking to cool down, I highly recommend a cheeky nap in Bonython Hall. It has some of the strongest air conditioning in the country, and I’ve had to wear a jacket during rehearsals when it’s 40 degrees outside!
You also may want to brush up on your cricket skills, or if you’re like me, get a rudimentary understanding of the rules at the very best!
Visit the Australian Youth Orchestra website to learn more about National Music Camp, and to register for updates on the AYO Summer Concert Series.
Images supplied. Credit Lisa Maree Williams.
