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