Sydney Youth Orchestras ::

Rachael Beesley and Ironwood are the Guest Directors for SYO Flagship Concert 2 on June 6 at St Patrick's Cathedral in Parramatta.

For full concert repertoire and booking details click

here

How did you discover classical music and end up becoming a violinist?
When I was 6 years old, I heard that the violin was the most difficult instrument in the world to play, so I knew that was for me!! But later when I heard the French Horn was even more difficult, I was quite disappointed but not enough to ever stop me from playing the violin ever since!!

Auditioning for the VCA when I was 16, I was asked why I wanted to become a musician and my answer was simple, because I love music!! I was duly advised by the well meaning jury that being a musician was not going to be an easy path to follow. But rather than discouraging me, they were wisely preparing me for the journey I am still following.

What is your career highlight to date?
Winning an audition at the age of 20 was a turning point for me. Although I’d been playing in orchestras all my life, the professional experience gained in working in OV, MSO, TSO and ABO proved invaluable for developing my career. Resigning from my job at the age of 22 was another big moment, as I just knew there was more out there in the world for me to discover!

Later, passing the audition for The Royal Conservatory in The Hague at the age of 25 was another amazing moment where the world of the music in Europe opened its doors. For the next 14 years, living in Holland, I was immersed in the world of Early Music, traveling the world and performing in the world’s best concert halls and festivals in Europe from Amsterdam to Vienna as well as Japan, China, Brazil and Australia.

Who or what in the world artistically inspires you the most?
My students!! I’m fortunate to have been teaching at Conservatories for 10 years and to be inspired through teaching and coaching young musicians to find their potential. In searching for a way to help students perform at their best, I learnt about the concept of “Practicing in Flow” and have developed this in my own performing and teaching practice. So when a musician allows a sense of physical ease in their playing, combined with searching for overtones in their sound, then they find a freedom of expression through connecting to the instrument, to the music and ultimately to the audience.

What’s your advice to our current senior members who are interested in pursuing a career as a professional musician? Either in Australia or overseas.
Have a clear goal in mind, search for balance between your ability and the challenges and concentrate on a specialization and dare to follow your own path!

The question I always ask myself when faced with options is, will I learn something from this experience? It could be interesting new repertoire, an amazing soloist or director or a fantastic location!
In choosing repertoire to study or perform I always search for repertoire that moves me or challenges me in a way I enjoy.
In specializing, one is learning to become focused wholly on a certain style or period of music or genre, enabling greater growth and development of ones’ playing, which in turn can be applied to any style, period or genre.
And follow your intuition….

What role do youth orchestras play in training professional musicians?
Every orchestral experience is invaluable! By performing a wide range of repertoire with experienced conductors/directors and being given the opportunities to play principal roles early on, ones’ development is naturally encouraged. Australia is a unique in the amount of opportunities for young musicians and this shows in the respect Australian musicians have on the world stage.

What can audiences expect from Beauty & the Baroque?
Live performance of music is always a moving experience, especially with the music of Bach. Having recorded all the Bach cantatas and performed the Passions, masses and oratorios by Bach, I find being immersed in his music is like entering a sacred place where the soul, mind, body and spirit are in perfect balance and harmony. Bach communicates so easily with us, bringing us feelings of joy and passion.

RACHAEL BEESLEY - Biography
Violinist, Rachael Beesley is one of Australia’s most versatile and dynamic performers. Based in The Netherlands over the last 14 years, she has established an exciting career as concertmaster and soloist with the finest European orchestras specialising in Early Music. Now based in Australia, Rachael has made a resounding impact on the music scene in Australia, performing, educating and directing programs around the country. A Graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor and Graduate Diploma of Arts in Music and a Master of Music from The Royal Conservatoire, The Hague, The Netherlands, Rachael is much in demand as a chamber musician and soloist, and regularly heard on ABC Classic FM. Rachael appears as guest concertmaster with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, director and soloist with the Tasmanian Symphony and Melbourne Chamber Orchestras as well as concertmaster with Opera Australia, Victorian and Pinchgut Opera and has recorded over 50 CD recordings for Harmonia Mundi, BIS, Sony and ABC Classics. As a professor at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, The Netherlands, Rachael has developed unique courses on Historical Performance Practice and Practising In Flow. A devoted educator Rachael teaches and guest lectures at the Conservatoriums of Music in Melbourne and Sydney and the Australian National Academy of Music.