Young Grittleton: Maria (12)

Thank you so much ESTA, Joan Dickson Chamber Music Fund, and Hidersine for helping me be able to take part in the Young Grittleton Chamber Music Course this summer. I am really appreciative because without your help it wouldn't have been possible.

I loved being able to play together with other musicians in orchestra and in chamber groups, something that I hadn't been able to do in the last 18 months and had missed. It was also something that was kind of ‘back to normal’ and not on Zoom or online.

I was so excited when coming to this course and I was greeted kindly by the pastoral care staff who showed me to my dorm, which I shared with 3 other people. I also made new friends and learned loads of new repertoire.

The coaching staff helped me so much. They gave me positive notes but also constructive feedback which made my cello playing better.

In the concert I played the Schubert Quartet in Eb op.125 no.1 and the Miniature Quartet no.2 by David Stone, who is one of my favourite composers.  Additionally in orchestra I played Hoe-Down, Celtic Suite 1. Poco allegro, Tico Tico No Fuba and Perpetuum Mobile, which were all wonderful pieces. I also learned the differences between playing solo, playing in a quartet, and playing in an orchestra.

I enjoyed this course so much and it was only made possible by ESTA, Hidersine and the Joan Dickson Chamber Music Fund. Thank you all!

Maria (12)  -  cello