Australian Youth Orchestra
Alumnus Andrew Lorenz
Andrew Lorenz (Violin, National Music Camp/AYO 1967-70) has enjoyed a varied and successful career as solo violinist, chamber musician, orchestral leader, teacher and conductor. He has also lead a number of Australia’s leading chamber groups comprising AYO Alumni, notably the New England Ensemble, Australian Piano Trio and Phoenix Ensemble with which he toured extensively throughout Australia, Europe, North America and Asia, also broadcasting for many of the world’s major radio and television networks. Andrew is currently a Performance Teaching Fellow at the Australian National University and performs with the Lanyon Trio and Canberra Symphony.
Tell us about the formation of the New England Ensemble
I met the ensemble members during AYO’s National Music Camp – Wendy Lorenz (piano), Janis Laurs (cello) and Robert Harris (viola). National Music Camp was a treasure for us all. After we’d attended various Camps, the University of New England wanted to create a resident group and Robert encouraged us to apply. We became ensemble-in-residence at the University’s Music Department from 1975-82 and the first full time professional ensemble based outside a capital city.
We played hundreds of school concerts and travelled to some of the most remote regional locations in NSW. It was so wonderful because we were embedded in the community, so we could connect with young people through music.
What were some memorable experiences you had as touring musicians?
We performed a concert in the Philippines during the first rains of the monsoonal season, where the audience couldn’t hear a single note of music. Afterwards, we were overwhelmed by the charm of the audience members, who came streaming through the Green Room congratulating us on our marvellous music. Later we discovered the foyer was flooded and the only way out was through the Green Room.
In Thailand we were recording a broadcast for Thai Radio during a coup. In the middle of the recording a soldier walked in, put his rifle on the piano and sat down to listen. At the end he simply picked up his rifle, smiled and walked out.
Back home, Musica Viva commissioned Peter Sculthorpe to compose Landscape II for string trio and amplified piano for the New England Ensemble and it was thrilling to perform, with Wendy plucking the inside of the piano like a harp.
You must have learnt so much during your career; what would you pass on to aspiring musicians?
It’s important not to shy away from the social aspect of being a musician – we had to learn how to speak in the public arena, give talks at functions, etc.
When you walk into venues you assume everything will be set up perfectly, but that’s rarely the case. We once turned up to a prestigious venue where the piano we were given had no pedals. We had to move a grand piano from one hall to another and barely had time to tune up before the concert. Always expect the worst and be prepared to improvise!