ALUMNI STORIES

​• I did WAYACHAMP in 2011, 2012, 2013

• I attended as an individual

• I’m currently free-lancing, accompanying, and teaching piano privately. I’ve also just recently enrolled in a Master of Performing Arts program

• The last trio I played was the Mendelssohn Piano Trio in D minor and my arrangement of Plink Plank Plunk for Piano Trio. Lately, I’ve performed the Brahms Viola Sonata in E flat major, Morpheus by Rebecca Clarke (which is just absolutely gorgeous), and the Bach Viola da Gamba Sonata in G

• My favourite piece I played at WAYACHAMP was the Mendelssohn Piano Quartet in C minor Op. 1 (2011) and the Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor (2012)

• Listening to each other, reacting to the other players as you play, breathing together, and reading up to 5 lines at once (violin, viola, cello, and my own two lines). I also loved exchanging ideas and working with other musicians. The three years involved with WAYACHAMP definitely impacted my musical development and I’ve left with many fond and memorable memories. I’ve also forged a lot of wonderful friendships that continue to this day.

• My first introduction to chamber music was when I joined WAYACHAMP in 2011 and I’ve loved it ever since - so much so that I decided to form my own trio (with musicians that I met at previous WAYACHAMPs) and played the Mendelssohn Piano Trio in D minor as part of my Honours recital.

• I'm pretty sure my first year was in 2012, and then I did it every year until 2017!

• I originally attended with my high school string quartet, but over the programs that I did, we expanded into piano quintets as well as forming a piano trio with George Unkovich and Miranda Murray-Yong that i still play with now!

• I'm currently in my third year of studying at WAAPA. I teach violin privately, as well as doing gigs with PSO and other groups around Perth.

• Recently i've been playing some gorgeous music with the WAAPA String Camerata with Paul Wright. In the most recent concert we played Eine Kleine Nachtmusik with Geoffrey Lancaster directing us and it was the most intricate and detailed rehearsals i've ever done! It payed off too, the concert was such a hit!

• Oh gosh there were so many that I loved playing and still do to this day. Probably would have to pick the Mendelssohn Piano trio!

• I learnt so much! The biggest takeaway that I would say was probably learning how to interact with other musicians in a chamber setting because its suddenly more than one or two ideas about how something should be played or interpreted and learning how to navigate that is so important. To have learnt that in a supportive environment with amazing tutors to guide you through was an amazing advantage.

• It is so important! Chamber music is an integral part of a musicians development and it is something that I want to do even more of in the future. Everything that we do as musicians feeds of the foundation of chamber music playing and it's something that constantly comes up and the skills that you learn are applicable to almost every setting.

• I did WAYACHAMP in 2014, 2016 and 2017
• I attended as an individual which was a good way of making new friends and meeting players that you might end up playing with after the program.
• I am currently studying at WAAPA (1st year) and working as a part-time violin tutor.
• Currently in a string quartet but over the years I have experimented playing sonatas, piano quintets, piano trios and more.
• Probably the Hayden “Gypsy” Trio, although I really enjoyed every piece I played.
• Looking is key! Chamber music can’t really play itself so looking at each other (not just the important part) will really maximise the experience for both the players and the audience
• Chamber music is a must if music is going to be your career. Again, it will maximise the experience for you and the audience throughout your career. I think chamber music is one of the most important things to learn as a musician so you can grow as a player.

• 2012- 2017 I believe!

• I started with my high school string quartet at the time but through the guys formed different groups. We played a piano quintet and I was lucky enough to form my piano trio with George and Robyn too.

• I’m currently teaching cello, doing contemporary and classical gigs around Perth and studying part time at WAAPA.

• I was just lucky enough to play a Valentini Concerto Grosso with Fremantle Chamber Orchestra under Paul Wright. Definitely some of the most moving and fascinating music I have played.

• Either the Schumann piano quintet or of course the Mendelssohn piano trio.

• Really understanding how to interact with other musicians and being willing to adapt in a chamber music setting was so important for me. The tutors such as Sophie Curtis, Paul Wright and Michael Goldschlager would give us little nuggets of information/inspiration/suggestion that stuck with me and help me teach and improve myself to this day.

• I can’t explain how imperative it is to any musician’s career! The art of collaboration and trying to feel the music as one in a group is indescribable and so special.

• 2011 and 2012 - It was the first year and second year of it

• I entered as an individual in the first year and in the second year I entered as a preformed group with my high school quartet (Ariel Postmus, Robyn Blann and Miranda Murray Yong)

• I am studying a bachelor of music at Kings College London currently

• Recently I've played in a lot of chamber string orchestra. Bartok divertimento, mozart divertimento and Dvorak serenade. In terms of smaller chamber groups, the latest I've done is the Mendelssohn octet, schnittke piano quintet and various new compositions from King' s composition lecturers and students

• Favourite piece was definitely the Mendelssohn D minor piano trio. Ever since then I've been trying to find another group to play it again haha

• Firstly, playing the Mendelssohn haha, but also I remember well my first year at Waapa where we would meet between the rehearsals with everyone and have lunch, it was really great to make new friends who loved doing what I also loved doing. There was a really nice vibe and a very positive and comforting atmosphere.

• Wayachamp was the first time I had ever properly played chamber music. So that meant it was the first time I was exposed the chamber repertoire, to the different combination of instruments, to the rewarding musical intimacy that you gain between players and more generally, the importance of chamber music in all types of music. Because of this I developed a very strong passion for chamber music and when I was studying in Switzerland, I created a quartet which entered many competitions and were invited to many professional festivals, I had a really strong relationship with the players which was completely based on the passion we all felt for chamber music. Wayachamp not only opened up the world of chamber music to me but also gave me other perspectives on music on general. I think it has especially helped my orchestral playing, as I've realised that it's basically just chamber playing. Especially now that I'm doing a bit more conducting, having a strong chamber music background makes everything so much simpler and less daunting.

• I attended WAYACHAMP from 2014-2017 as an individual
• I’m currently at UWA studying music
• I have most recently played the Haydn ‘rider’ quartet
• My favourite piece that I played at WAYACHAMP (and still my favourite piece of chamber music ever) is the Brahms string sextet in B flat
• I think the best part of the WAYACHAMP program is the amazing wisdom and experience imparted by the professions that you get to be tutored by and sometimes even play with
• WAYACHAMP pretty much taught me everything I know about chamber music and that experience and knowledge has not only helped me hugely in all of my musical endeavours in and outside of a chamber scenario, but has also heightened my love for classical music in general

• I participated in WAYACHAMP in 2011 & 2013 as an individual
• I’m currently in my final year of my bachelor degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music studying with Professor Alice Waten. I’m currently working with the admin team for SSO and teach privately
• I’ve been very fortunate and have gotten to play lots of different and exciting chamber music. Ranging from violin-viola duets; string trios; string quartets by Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Shostakovich; piano quintets and more!
• My favourite piece I studied at wayachamp was either a Mozart divertimento or the Brahms piano quintet
• One very important thing wayachamp taught me is that communication is essential to a successful chamber group. Everyone needs to be able to voice their own ideas and thoughts. More importantly though is to have fun both in and out of rehearsal.
• Chamber music has been an integral part of my development as a musician. It has taught me to always listen to others, each and every part is of equal importance, really get to know the score and what happens in rehearsal stays in rehearsal.