What is your earliest musical memory?

I started with the Suzuki method; my teacher actually brought that method to Australia. The first thing that we used to learn is how to stand properly; I was maybe 3 years old and my teacher would make a cardboard mat and he would trace out your shoes so you could learn the different positions to stand; I had stickers all over the card and that was one of the greatest memories. I remember I did lessons before school in a small church in Wahroonga. In the Suzuki method you have group lessons where you play with a bunch of people and you play the same piece so it's not about playing as a soloist, it's about playing as a community. All these little kids around you, just playing the exact same piece and smiling together.

Do you remember your first performance?

When I was about four or five, I went we went to Matsumoto in Japan for a summer convention with the Suzuki method. I was combined with people from all over the world. With the Suzuki method, there are different books and you all play the same pieces so basically these kids from all over the world met in a big gymnasium hall and played together. It was absolutely fantastic to see everyone; all these different teachers with their little classes. You build wonderful friendships that are so close because you travel and you learn everything together. I'm still best friends with the friends that I made when I was three. It's really nice.

Are you from a musical family?

My parents do not know anything about music, but they spent lots of time making sure we got to lessons and things like that, but my sister plays. When I started playing the violin, my sister came to my group lessons and she started playing the violin as well. Later on, she started the double bass and she actually plays a viola a bit as well. 

Earlier this term, you were named a Music Captain; what are your plans for the music program next year?

I'm really looking forward to the House Music Festival. It's one of the biggest events in the school calendar and I really want to get every single person in the school involved. I have to compose and arrange different pieces so that everyone, with or without musical experience, can be part of it and love the music culture like I do. It’s competitive, but it’s friendly and I love that, especially after this year when we haven’t been able to play together or sing because of COVID-19 lockdown.

Playing with other people seems really important to you; is that why you auditioned for the Rising Stars program at the Conservatorium of Music?

When I was in Year 3, I auditioned for the Rising Stars program because a few of my friends were trying out. I got in! Every Saturday we go to the Conservatorium of Music and  lesson participate in tutorials or lessons with amazing teachers. We do theory, technique, and performance. A lot of professional musicians that are quite well known came out of that program which is inspiring. It's the community that is just wonderful; I think the music community is one of the strongest because you have to see each other often and you work hard. It’s my seventh or eighth year this year. When I joined, I was the youngest girl and then I’ve gone through and evolved and now I'm like an old hand. They’ve added a junior section, so there's a lot of younger kids coming up which is awesome.

So, you've been doing this since you were 3 years old; are you going to stay part of the music community after school? What are your future plans?

In the future, I would like to continue music, but it's kind of hard because of COVID-19, and we've seen the effect that it’s had on the music and arts industries. If things recover, I would like to travel and work with different coaches and teachers. Travelling and playing is amazing because music is an international language. You can play and share and communicate with people from all over the world even if you don’t know their language. And that's why going overseas and doing all those conventions really helped me to connect with other people; I want to keep doing that.

What do you do for fun when you don’t have a bow in your hands?

Music does take up a lot of my time; and that’s what I do for fun. I have different lessons, not just with violin, but piano and then orchestra. These things take dedicated to work, commitment. Now I’m in Year 11, I have to balance practicing at a serious level and studying at the same time. For me, it's like, I still need to keep up the practise otherwise I'll lose the skills and being good is the fun part.
 
But I also like volunteering. We have a house up near the Hawkesbury and there were really big fires that devastated the community in that area in 2020. Our land wasn’t affected, but lots of people were. We saw that money donated didn't always go to the volunteer firefighters who were on the ground so my family went to Coles and filled up car loads and car loads of food and power bars and energy drinks (and chocolate) and we helped make sure everyone had what they needed to just keep going.
 
I’m part of social justice club to and my friends and I try and think of other ways to help, like when we wrote to the farmers during the mouse plague because we read about the crops that were destroyed and their houses that were invaded. But that problems seemed to have eased through the winter. It was interesting to talk to people and connect with them as it’s so different to where we live.

As we speak, HSC examinations are about to begin. Do you have any advice for Year 12?

Music is a very emotional art form. Once you’ve put in the work practising timing, intonation, trust that you know what to do and don’t worry about all the techniques. When you're performing, it's all about just showing what you've done and being proud that you've come this far. Just enjoy the emotion of the performance.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Everyone should just try and have a go at music. Join a choir, perform in an ensemble, listen to music, play it with friends. Music is a great way to meet people in your year group but also to bond with other years too.