Talented young musicians from Scotland’s national music school describe what music means to them in a new film released by St Mary’s Music School today.
Entitled On Being a Musician, the film is the final in a series of four short films, taking inspiration from the book Robert Schumann’s Advice to Young Musicians Revisited by Steven Isserlis.
Schumann’s book, first published in 1850, was given a modern interpretation when updated in 2016 by Steven Isserlis, the internationally renowned British cellist who is also a Vice-President of St Mary’s Music School.
The latest film features recent past and current pupils at the School who all share a common purpose in their immersion in and passion for music and their desire to master their chosen instrument and perform. They hail from different parts of Scotland and play different instruments.
The young musicians featured are Max Carsley, (age 17) Oboe, Ryan Corbett (age 19) Accordion, Hugh MacKay (age 18) Cello, Shakira Segalla-Humbert (age 15) Cello, Rachel Spence (age 19) Viola, Oceane Taneus-Miller (age 14) Violin and Sophie Williams (age 19) Violin.
Shakira Segalla-Humbert is shown playing her cello with Steven Isserlis and says:
"I would like to be a musician when I get older. When you do loads of music every day at school, it gives you confidence and the determination to do more”.
Former pupil Sophie Williams, a violinist aged (19), now studying at Royal College of Music states:
“Music is a talent everyone has whether you nurture it or not and if you work at it, I think everyone has the potential to be musical.”
The first title in the film series Practising was released in November 2017, Composing in March 2018, Playing in June 2018 and now On Being a Musician completes the series.
The commentary in the four films has been provided by one of St Mary’s Music School’s most famous past pupils, television personality and singer, Alexander Armstrong.
Commenting on On Being a Musician, Dr Kenneth Taylor, Headteacher at St Mary’s Music School, said:
'St Mary’s Music School is in the very fortunate position of being able to teach some of the brightest and most gifted young musicians from Scotland and further afield. Our aim is to support any young person with outstanding potential regardless of financial circumstances and we are delighted that this series of films has given our pupils the opportunity to share their personal experience in the hope of inspiring others. Our first three films have proved very popular, with tens of thousands of views since their release.
At St Mary’s Music School we welcome pupils from age 9 to 19 and our only criteria for entry is musical ability and potential. We are always happy to hear from prospective pupils, their families or music teachers to arrange an audition or to find out more about the School. We provide advisory auditions free of charge. These are an opportunity for dedicated young musicians to receive constructive advice and are a way of establishing whether they are ready for the full audition process.'