Arts & Culture – “It is what humanises us” – Paula Barnett

Martinborough resident, Paula Barnett, is passionate about arts and culture “it is the earliest expression of ideas without words, all embracing and very personal. It is an intrinsic part of our make- up”. Paula loves classical music.

With the Election only 3 weeks away at the time of writing, it is interesting to read the Arts and Culture Policies of the various Parties. Labour, National, New Zealand First, Act and the other minor parties do not have policies available. The Green Party has a comprehensive policy also seeing arts and culture as an intrinsic part of our society. They “recognise the value of community arts and community arts organisations through continued Creative Communities funding”.

  For organisations like Martinborough Music Festival (MMF) it means a likelihood that funding for their school outreach programmes will continue. Presented in Martinborough School, Kuranui and Wairarapa Colleges, the programmes have the aim of developing in the students, an interest in  classical music. William Taber who comes from Pirinoa and is a former student of Kuranui College has benefitted from an MMF outreach programme. At that time William was learning the double bass from local teacher, Victoria Jones, “an amazing teacher”. MMF arranged for clarinettist and internationally recognised music teacher, Mark Walton, who was in Martinborough for the 2018 MMF, to lead that year’s school programme.

William says “playing with Mark Walton was a lot of fun. His path and how he got [to the top] was quite inspiring. His work ethic and following the path that was naturally there for him, [because of] that work ethic, was encouraging. It really helped set the idea that hard and smart work really pays off – especially in music”. Mark Walton composed a duet “Catch Me If You Can” especially for this session. William put his hand up to play the first public performance of this simple but beautiful piece with Mark. William says the whole experience with Mark Walton sharing his musical knowledge left a lasting impression. Now studying music at the VUW School of Music (double bass), William will be playing in this year’s MMF school outreach programme. 

Ed Allen of MMF is particularly excited by this year’s school outreach programme. ‘It is a collaboration with the NZ School of Music including five student string musicians who will demonstrate the talents of each of the instruments that they play”. For example, the violin plays “high horror, horror music, sad music to show that string groups are very versatile; they can play almost anything for any situation”. The sessions will be interactive allowing the students to say how well each improvisation worked, favourite instruments and to ask questions. Above all says Ed, “it will be a lot of fun”. The MMF Schools Programme will be delivered in mid- October.

William Taber has his sights set on a career playing in a chamber orchestra. Good luck William. We would love to have you play the Martinborough Music Festival one day.                       Winifred Bull

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