BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
When Lianah Jaensch found the perfect cello teacher, but he lived in a different capital city, the studious young musician wasn’t deterred.
And when Lianah’s mum Jacinda challenged her to read this teacher’s entire cello technique book as a test of dedication, Lianah again was not deterred.
Now, Lianah is finally learning to hone her craft with her dream teacher: Australian cellist David Pereira. With David, Lianah is developing skills you’ll get to hear this month when you watch her take to the Western Sydney Youth Orchestra stage as a soloist.
The 12-year-old principal cellist of WSYO is preparing the first movement of the Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major. She’ll draw from her experiences as 2014-16 principal cellist of the Northern Sydney Youth Orchestra’s junior strings program; and masterclasses and workshops with Yelian He, Teije Hylkema (Opera Australia), Inbal Segev (New York), the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, and the Sydney Symphony Fellows.
Ahead of her performance as a soloist, we chat with Lianah about why she might be one of Australia’s most dedicated music students.
(And she started young, having picked up the cello when she was 5 years old, and played at the piano since she was 3. Not bad, right?)
Lianah, how are you feeling about performing the first movement of the Haydn concerto this December?
I am very grateful and excited to be performing with WSYO this year!
Is this the first time you’ve prepared to play a concerto with a full orchestral backing? What are some of the things you have been thinking about in your preparation?
This is the first time I’ve prepared as a soloist.
I have played the Vivaldi Concerto for 2 Cellos in G minor with another cellist and the Northern Sydney Youth Orchestra, but that was a few years ago. Hearing the sound of the orchestra behind me is very powerful.
In preparation for this solo, I’ve mostly been thinking if I’ll be loud enough to be heard in that huge hall over the orchestra, so that the people in the back can still hear me. I’ve been focusing on how to project my sound, and my teacher suggested I use a ‘decibel app’ to help me.
So tell us why you love the piece.
I have always loved this piece because I have always loved the harder cello repertoire, especially the ‘big’ ones – Haydn, Dvorak, Elgar, Shostakovich, etc. I’m lucky that my parents take me to concerts throughout the year, so I’ve been fortunate enough to hear and see many famous cellists – Alisa Weilerstein, Pieter Wispelwey, Steven Isserlis, etc. – play all these pieces live. But it was actually James Pensini, conductor of WSYO, who approached me and suggested I play it.
You’ve been having cello lessons with David Pereira as part of your development. How did you form this relationship?
We first heard David being interviewed on the radio program Duet with Tamara-Anna Cislowska. It was after school so I was very tired, and I wasn’t listening with my full attention, but my mum was. She found out he taught in Canberra, and we were going to Canberra anyway for the Canberra International Music Festival, so she organised a lesson with him.
I played the Haydn for him and then he asked me if I wanted a normal lesson, like I was used to, or – if this was the only time he had to teach me – then I could have a ‘different’ lesson so he could make it influential and transformative. I asked for the transformative lesson, and he went into explaining his cello technique. I knew then that, if it were at all possible, I wanted him to be my teacher, even though he lived in Canberra!
At the end of the lesson, David also expressed his wanting to be my teacher, which we hadn’t anticipated, because we had been happy with my teacher at the time. It was a hard decision to make, and one that was not taken lightly.
My mum said that if I were serious about having David as my teacher then I should read his Pereira Cello Technique book and watch all the accompanying videos before making my decision. It took me three weeks, but I read and watched everything and enjoyed it thoroughly, so I asked him to be my teacher (after consulting with my parents of course) and he said yes!
Why have you felt that lessons with David have been worth so much investment on your part – from hours of reading and research, to the distance spent travelling when you first started with him?
David is not like any teacher I have had before. Every lesson is different and exciting! David has me exploring new repertoire that I didn’t think I would be able to at my age. He also has an ability to explain concepts and techniques in different ways so that it brings out the best in my playing.
What do you think it is that makes a student and teacher ‘click’? How do you know when you’ve found the right one?
This is difficult to answer because, of course, it’s not just ‘one thing’. But perhaps you know you’ve found a good relationship with your teacher when you find yourself really wanting to learn more from them and this then impacts your practice routine. I found myself ‘wanting’ to practice instead of ‘having’ to practice.
Your experience with the Western Sydney Youth Orchestra will be a huge step forward for your musical portfolio – so what’s next? Where do you want to take things?
My short term goal for next year is to complete Grade 8 in cello, to then go on and complete AMusA the year after that. (My piano teacher also wants me to complete AMusA in piano next year, so things will be pretty busy!).
I’ve also re-auditioned for Sydney Youth Orchestras next year, as I love orchestral repertoire and playing with other musicians. My long term goal, however, when I’m older, is to be a soloist and tour around the world!
Support Lianah’s journey when you see her perform solo at the Summer Showcase from 9.30am in Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Details online.
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This article makes me very glad. Lianah does more cello practice than ever has any other of my students. Good on her! She badly wants to excel. She uses every lovely teaching I can throw at her. She lets me be the best I can be. It’s a treasure. It’s as good as it gets. James Pensini is an admirable musician/conductor that I’ve enjoyed observing at work with the WSYO. Celebration is in order!
David Pereira