Q and A
Question
Answer
Can you tell us a bit about you, and what you are up to these days?
I am fully retired. I still perform with the local Salvation Army band when requested. I am an admirer of Tchaikovsky's music. I have arranged several pieces for brass band. I also play the piano at our retirement village Christian fellowship meetings.
What was a highlight of your time in AYO programs?
I enjoyed my time with the AYO, mixing with other likeminded students and performers to obtain an extremely high standard of presentation.
What skills, musical and otherwise, did you take away from your time at AYO?
The skill of needing complete concentration when performing.
What was your favourite piece or performance during your programs?
I loved Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2 and Tchaikovsky Symphony No.5.
Why do you think AYO is important to the Australian cultural landscape?
It puts great emphasis on music as a leisure activity. In my opinion sport receives too much funding and publicity.
How would you describe AYO in three words?
Uplifting, challenging, rewarding.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about you or your time at AYO?
As a retiree, my music activities as a performer, composer and arranger are excellent for the stimulation of the mind as I march through my senior years. I am now 84.
What was one of the first pieces of music to inspire you?
Beethoven's Symphony No.5.
What pieces would you share with people who want to discover more about orchestral music?
Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, the ballet music of Tchaikovsky.
Is there a piece of advice you received from a music teacher/mentor that has always stayed with you?
Always be properly prepared when performing.
What instrument would you play if you couldn’t play your primary instrument?
Piano.
Which composer would you invite to a dinner party and why?
Tchaikovsky.
Where in the world would you most like to perform and why?
Carnegie Hall in New York; Tchaikovsky was the special guest at the opening in 1891.
Would you rather: that you sounded like a tuba when you sneezed, or sounded like a piccolo when you laughed?
A tuba when I sneeze.
Is there anything else you'd like to say?
I thoroughly enjoyed my 27 years at Camberwell Grammar School as a music educator.
