BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
If your heart hasn’t already started to burst from the generosity of the Melbourne Digital Concert Hall, this story will probably tip you over the edge.
Through its ongoing performance program (and most recently, its Faces of Our Orchestra festival), the live streaming platform has already raised more than $200,000 for local musicians who have lost work due to COVID-19.
It’s enough to make you feel warm and fuzzy for the way our arts community is able to pull through in a crisis; the way its practitioners actively find new and inventive ways to continue their careers, all while supporting each other during the toughest of challenges.
In this story, we introduce you to one individual who has taken a huge new step into the spotlight of our arts community within this difficult environment.
Arts patron hero Michael Aquilina is single-handedly helping more than 50 orchestral musicians put food on the table by gifting them with a base income, so they can continue their arts careers and perform a string of upcoming events through the MDCH.
Here, Michael tells us why he’s chosen to personally help fund the players of the MDCH, outside their ticket income.
(And he also gives us his top picks from the appropriately named Michael Aquilina Chamber Music Festival, which kicks off with the concert hall this 30 May.)
Michael, I must preface this interview by saying thank you for your incredible contribution to the Australian arts community. When did the Melbourne Digital Concert Hall first hit your radar, and why were you moved to help so generously?
MDCH came my attention when [co-founder] Chris Howlett contacted me on 17 April asking me to help fund a festival called Faces of our Orchestra.
Chris knows me because I am a patron of 3MBS Fine Music Melbourne, a not-for-profit classical music radio station, of which he’s the artistic ambassador.
The way you are structuring your assistance is by providing a base income for the performing artists, outside their ticket income. As a listener of the MDCH, what pleasure does it bring you to know you’re helping make it happen? Not only that, but helping about 50 musicians continue to put food on the table during a pandemic?
It makes my heart feel lighter. We are all in this crisis together.
In uncertain times such as these, I wanted a way to guarantee the musicians’ income for each event, and not have it determined by ticket sales.
I am in a fortunate financial position. Sharing my good fortune with the musicians would alleviate some financial pressure from them. The coronavirus is causing enough stress in itself.
Tell us a bit about the process of giving, and your relationship with the MDCH team. How are you coming together to assess and meet each other’s needs?
I was very impressed with the MDCH online presentation. In fact, I thought I could have been watching a recital from a European concert hall, the production was that good.
I had no hesitation in approaching Chris Howlett from MDCH when I came up with the idea for chamber music concerts.
Chris was thrilled with my idea, so I called my violin teacher, and former Melbourne Symphony Orchestra concertmaster, Wilma Smith. Wilma was thrilled, and immediately wanted to help Chris and me bring my idea to fruition.
I have a very good relationship with Wilma and she is a dear friend. Chris and I are developing a nice relationship and I consider him a friend, too.
I have total faith in MDCH and Wilma, and I left it up to them to collaborate and make this happen. The only thing I suggested was making some nights [feature] special concerts — concerts that were full-length concerts with an interval and everything, so people at home could make a night of it.
It sounds like quite a collaborative experience. As an arts patron, what are your general expectations with regards to the way an arts organisation will facilitate your gifts?
When I donate to an organisation, I do understand there are administration costs.
My expectation, though, is for the majority of my funding to go to that which I wish it to be appropriated.
And I always discuss that with the organisation before donating so we have an agreement.
On a broad level, why do you feel it’s important to support the arts as an industry, over other industries?
I support the arts because the people who have chosen this career path have dedicated their lives to it for our enjoyment.
Yes, it is their passion and joy, too. However, they spend hours and hours [at it], every single day, of every single week, over tens of years of intense and sometimes crippling practice.
They could have gone on to be a surgeon or a lawyer to make more money, yet they chose to train and perfect their art so they could share their extraordinary talent with us.
I’m going to ask you candidly: why do you feel the responsibility falls on your own shoulders, as an individual, to make a difference to these people’s lives?
I do not feel this responsibility has fallen on my shoulders as an individual at all. Michael Jackson wrote a song Man in the Mirror, and I loved that as a teenager. If you listen to the words, he asks you to ‘be the change you wish to see in the world’.
I have done my best to live my life by that code. So that’s what I believe I am doing.
Delightfully, the MDCH has named its chamber music series after you! What are some of the highlights of your own series that you’re looking forward to listening to?
I am excited about all of the concerts, actually. I have personal relationships with some of the players, as I have been an arts patron for about 10 years. I also support Wilma and Friends and PLEXUS. And, being a violinist myself, I am understandably drawn to string ensembles.
So my highlights will be:
– Opening concert, 7pm May 30 — performed by Lawrence Matheson, Dale Barltrop, Christopher Cartlidge, Rachael Tobin, and Stephen Newton
– Concert 6, 7pm May 31 — performed by PLEXUS with guest artists
– All of the Gala Series of chamber music [and some upcoming performances in June and July with Wilma and Friends, Michelle Wood and Stefan Cassomenos, Sarah Curro, Sophie Rowell and Kristian Chong].
What a program. Michael, what advice would you give to others who might be considering donating to the Australian arts industry, but aren’t sure where to start or if they should take that step?
My advice to anyone wishing to donate to the arts would be this: If you’re considering it, then your heart is telling you to do it. So just do it.
Determine which performing art resonates with you and where your passion lies.
I suggest giving larger donations to one organisation to make a huger impact, rather than spreading your funds across too many charities.
Thank you for contributing to our community, Michael!
Visit the Melbourne Digital Concert Hall website to watch the Michael Aquilina Chamber Music Festival from 30-31 May, and explore the full program.
Images supplied. Credit: Albert Comper.
