Interviews with musicians, composers and conductors
As a musician, for myself the most successful moments I have are those brief flickers, when rehearsing a piece, when one suddenly understands a buried structure, mood, feeling or moment, and how it ties everything together and how to give clarity to that expression: those moments when, after studying, developing and rehearsing, one has a flash of insight.
I want aspiring musicians to know that there is not one singular way to be a musician and that there is not one path to take to be a musician. You can create the career you want! And even if you don’t want music to be your career, you can still be a musician
My favourite word for a musician is “trust”. We all practice very hard to have the requisite knowledge and skills. Trust is the ineffable ingredient. When we trust that what we communicate will resonate with the listener, that we don’t have to impress the audience, show off, or never miss a note, we will find our way to music’s essence.
playing works I love by other composers fuels my own desire to compose; and I feel that composing gives me an insight into the creative process that informs my choices when I play music by other composers
My greatest challenge is probably having the ability – and the desire – to embrace wildly different repertoires and styles. The performing arts world loves categories and labels, but I resist being pigeonholed and constantly push the boundaries of what I sing. I am equally comfortable singing cabaret in an intimate music venue, arias in an opera gala, musical theatre on the West End stage, or contemporary music with a sixty- piece orchestra!
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