You, me and NMC
An enthusiastic audience during staff chamber concert
Outside Elder Hall
Ping pong at St Marks
Elder Hall
On route to rehearsals
With my alarm dragging me into the world of the living this morning, the world of NMC was already in full voice with a trombone giving his or her chops a run for their money with long notes, and across a bed of roses, several forms of open string exercises were being tested by multiple violinists.
Indeed one of the joys of walking around the campus and college is the musical menagerie of sounds drifting down from rehearsals.
On the shuttle bus to Elder Hall and during mealtimes, conversation has been dominated by the floods throughout Queensland. With a large contingent of Queenslanders at NMC, the events are very close to many of our hearts and homes, and our thoughts are with those families affected.
However the program of NMC continues vivace con fuoco.
Having interviewed a broad cross section of the NMC family with fellow ‘WAM-er’ Anna, we have stumbled upon what we believe is the heart of NMC for the majority of the participants: the people. Again and again, from clarinettist to conductor, tutor to trumpeter, the relationships formed are what justify the gruelling two weeks of rehearsals and performances.
Sam Torrens, bass trombone alumni of NMC and now production manager, reflected on his NMC experiences: “the people are great and it’s what seems to bring everybody back… it’s like an addiction.”
Yes, the friendships are sustaining, but the music is what nourishes. It’s the lingua franca and provides the blank score for meaningful and melodious interactions between all of those involved in NMC.
Oh, and the cricket was cancelled due to inclement weather. I guess we'll have to call it a draw...
Lachlan Snow
Words About Music participant
Anna and Lachlan’s radio feature “The National Music Camp Green Room” featuring interviews with several NMC staff and students will go to air during the live broadcast this Saturday beginning at 8pm EST on ABC Classic FM.




