Meet the WAMMERS - tutor Genevieve Lang

Careers intertwine

Canberra-born Genevieve Lang is currently based in Sydney and works as a harpist, writer and pre-concert speaker.  After graduating from the Canberra School of Music in 1998 she took the plunge, moved to Sydney with harp in tow and started to build a career as a freelance harpist. 

Genevieve is upfront about the difficulties in choosing such a career.  She describes leaving the safe environment of the tertiary institution as a shock.  “When I was walking off stage after playing the last notes of my graduation recital, I suddenly realised that the next engagement I had was a dentist appointment the following February,” Genevieve says.  The dentist however was quickly surpassed. Her move to Sydney and association with Louise Johnson from the Sydney Symphony led to work with that orchestra, and subsequently a full diary with the Sydney Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestras.

The learning curve was steep. The level of listening in a professional orchestra was intense as was the ability to manage relationships and communicate effectively with colleagues.  In short, this was the essence of professional orchestral playing.

The freelance musical life was in many ways extremely satisfying.  Ignoring the creature comforts of a weekly salary, it allowed Lang to work with an enviable variety of music, musicians and organisations. It was not however, to be forever.  “Eventually it got a bit boring” Genevieve says.  “I was looking for different challenges.  Playing the harp was still a challenge, but it was the same challenge.”  Attending the 2007 WAM program was a catalyst to a new direction in her career.  It opened up a stimulating world of communication about music in print, interviews and presenting that she hadn’t considered.  Today, both careers happily intertwine.  Her performance skills and knowledge are a valuable asset to her presentations and her presenting and writing makes her a more informed, curious, and subsequently better musician.  

By Jack Chenoweth