Welcome to Con Fuoco – CutCommon’s new interview series with emerging musicians across Australia.
Anne Boothroyd is completing her third year of a Bachelor of Music at the University of Tasmania, majoring in flute. She’s performed chamber works by Samuel Barber, Ross Edwards, Eric Ewazen and Bohuslav Martinu with various ensembles and is a member of Noteaurius, Tasmania’s chamber ensemble dedicated to performing local compositions. Her recent solo recital performances include ‘Duo for Flute and Piano’ by Copland, the ‘Undine’ Sonata op.167 by Reinecke and the ‘Flute Concerto in G Major’ by Mozart. She is preparing works by Poulenc, Mucynski and Handel for her final UTas recital.
Your all time favourite piece of music?
I love the fourth movement of Brahms’ Fourth Symphony for its intense drama. I must have listened to it 100 times!
Most memorable concert experience?
In 2013 was playing in an ensemble of seven players with no conductor, and each one of us lost our place in the music. There was an awkward pause as everyone gradually stopped playing. I quickly played a solo passage, which everyone recognized, and we all continued on from that point until the end. I couldn’t sleep that night as the adrenaline was still pumping!
Biggest fear when performing?
I always used to worry about leaving the music at home or mixing up the order of the pages, but more recently I worry about being unwell on the day of the performance. Playing with a cold can seriously undermine all the work you put in for a performance.
The best piece of musical advice you’ve been given?
Fiona Perrin, my teacher of seven years, frequently reminds me not to try too hard. I still need to listen to this advice daily. I am also frequently reminded to believe in myself.
How do you psych yourself up for practice on a lazy day?
I don’t often have lazy days. But I do need some serious inspiration to practice when I’m tired. Usually I’ll tell myself to do just 15 minutes, and then I’ll end up doing an hour, because once I’ve found a problem, I’ll want to fix it.
Most embarrassing thing to happen to you on stage?
Once in a rehearsal break, I was eating some pumpkin seeds from a container, and I dropped them all over the floor. They really spread out everywhere, and I had to explain to lots of people who I’d never met that I’d actually been eating theses weird little green seeds. As a teenager, it was embarrassing!
Favourite post-gig activity?
It sounds silly, but I like to touch base with my teachers, whether they have heard the concert or not, to hear any feedback, either positive or negative. Then I love catching up with all my friends.
What are you most proud of in your musical career so far?
I’m most proud of my successful audition to AYO National Music camp in 2014. I remember leaving the audition room feeling like it was the best audition I’d played yet.
What do you love most about making music?
I love playing with other people, because it’s such a reward to hear all the notes you were practising alone take on another meaning when combined with others.
What’s your ultimate goal?
As soon as I heard my teachers play in the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, I wanted to play in an orchestra just like them. Now, I don’t want to play in an orchestra until I have the skills to play every part with enough confidence to enjoy the performance. Otherwise, it would be a terrifying experience.
If you’re an emerging musician and would like to be featured in CutCommon’s new Con Fuoco interview series, give us a shout at editor@cutcommon.com.
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