“It showed us what we could do in the future!”
That was the excited reaction from Wairarapa Youth Orchestra player Kathya Meier (Kuranui College) after a recent workshop held by Martinborough Music Festival.
For 25 young Wairarapa students, the first day of the July school holidays was filled with the sound of music as they took part in a day-long workshop for string players — a first for the Festival as part of its community outreach programme.
Tutors Lucas Baker and Haden Nickel (violin), Lauren Jack (viola), Esther Lee (cello) and William Taber (double bass) started the day with a rousing rendition of the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean—a favourite with the young players.
Separate sessions with the tutors followed for each of the string groups, preparing a piece to be presented at a brief concert for friends and family later in the day.
“I’m the only viola player in the Wairarapa Youth Orchestra and have been playing for 18 months,” said Kathya. “Today was about really improving my skills and learning how to sing with my viola.”
For Levi Martin, who has learnt the cello for seven years, meeting the tutors who had been through university training was the highlight of a hugely enjoyable day. “I got some good tips!” he said.
Alex Bunny (Tararua College) had come down from Pahiatua for the day. He has been learning the cello for just over a year, taking it up after listening to the Croatian performers 2cellos. He particularly enjoyed the Pirates theme, and the opportunity to learn from professional musicians.
Kathryn Seagrave, cello tutor with the Youth Orchestra and a volunteer with its organising committee, said a big plus for the day was for the participants to be with young professional music players so they can see there is a future in music.
“They were fabulous tutors and so approachable, making the day really exciting. The students were just soaking up what they had to say,” she said. “It’s an inspiration to have a day with others who are like you.
“We are a young organisation—just in our third year—and working with tamariki who have been playing their instruments for a short time. The strings workshop was such a shot in the arm for them and we are so grateful to the Festival for having something like this to come to.”
The Martinborough Music Festival’s outreach programme is an increasingly important part of the Festival. After several years of presenting free concerts for schools in the region, a workshop was seen as an important way of encouraging young players to continue their studies.
This year’s schools’ concerts take place during August, with the string quintet playing to 12 schools on 8 August, and a woodwind quintet playing to three schools on 22 August.
Plans are already under way for another workshop next year.
Caption: Playing for friends and family in the concert at the end of the workshop, led by Lucas Baker.
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