When meeting the world’s youngest virtuoso since Mozart himself, you’d be forgiven for any pre-conceived assumptions of arrogance and self-importance; a trait often found in classical musicians, but Emily Trott possesses none of these. Instead, her most obvious personality trait is her refreshing humility.
Upon meeting her, the first thing that strikes you is her dedication to her work, swiftly followed by her personal sense of disbelief at her success. “It’s all I can ever remember wanting to do”, she told me, “ever since I could walk I’ve been playing the violin”. That certainly is true. Emily showed me a home video, from when she was aged just 3, and sure enough she was playing the violin.
Her family tried to get her to engage with other objects around the room; soft toys, dolls, and her ‘My First Kitchen Set’, all of which would have provided hours and hours of entertainment for any normal three year old. And yet, the only item in the room she paid any interest in was the violin her mother owned. “I just remember being so in awe of this violin, perched on the mantel piece”, she told me, “I just wanted to make noises with it”. Emily recalls the first time her mother allowed her to hold it, remarking that the sound it created was nothing short of dreadful, but nonetheless being totally transfixed. She remembers asking her mother to teach her, and the scepticism her father had about teaching a three year old the violin. “I think he was just worried about constant screeching of a beginner violinist”, she remarked.
Despite concern from her father, her mother began to teach her, and she hasn’t looked back since. I questioned her as to if she had ever contemplated changing her dreams, being focused on something from such a young age takes true dedication, and at times can be mentally exhausting. She replied simply, “No”.
I asked her what was her greatest achievement to date, excluding the personal invitation from Andre Reiu himself. She took a moment to consider. “I suppose being the youngest violinist to pass Grade 8 with over 140 marks is something”, she joked. That is quite the achievement, but she almost seemed embarrassed to say it. “I don’t see myself as anything special”, she said when I asked her if she was sure, “I’m just an ordinary teenage girl doing something that I love”; a statement with which I must strongly disagree. No ordinary teenage girl could balance a world tour, GCSE’s, and all the drama of being a teenager in modern society. The stress some teenagers are placed under at the best of times is unbearable, let alone with the added stress of performing in front of thousands of people every night in twenty countries across the globe.
The Reiu world tour has undoubtedly been her biggest challenge to date, but one she has immensely enjoyed. “Everyone has been amazing with me”, she remarked. “I was really nervous when I first met them all in London, but they all put me at ease really quickly. They’re all lovely.” She commented about the importance of adjusting quickly in to an already established group, and the daunting prospect of performing in front of thousands of people. “I was nervous enough at the closed rehearsal in London, but performing on opening night in Melbourne was something else. Andre [Reiu] really helped me calm my nerves before we started, and he really calmed me on stage. He’s got such a presence on stage”. This is true, having seen Reiu on stage myself I can personally vouch that from the moment he walks on stage, he commands it. The audience is fixated from start to finish, not just by the music, but by the man in charge of it all.
I was lucky enough to be invited to watch Emily perform with Reiu at the concert in Manchester. For all of the stage presence Reiu possesses, Trott never looked or felt out of place. The emotion and feeling she put into her performance was truly breath taking. For a sixteen year old to perform so skilfully, so emotionally, in a room with 21,000 people watching nothing but her is the truest testament of her ability. Of all the pieces she performed, the one that struck me the most was ‘Amazing Grace’. The song has so much emotion, and means so much to so many across the world, and Trott managed to portray all of this from the very first note. To tell you I managed to hold back a tear would be a blatant lie.
I asked Emily if she had any messages to any girls looking at starting to learn a classical instrument. “I think it is vital that we encourage more girls to take up classical instruments. It’s still a very male dominated art form, and we need to change that. In this modern time we shouldn’t have as greater gender bias as we do, but we can change that. It is without doubt, the best decision you will ever make. The road may be long and difficult, but it can take you anywhere. The opportunities this instrument has presented me have been incredible, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I never really imagined I'd get this far. If it got me to where I am today, who knows where it could take you”. Her parting sentiment really struck a chord with me. She’s right. In 2016 there should be more equality, and not just in the classical music art form. I believe there was a deeper message hidden behind her words; don’t let men put you off. Follow your dreams. She certainly did.
Pull Quotes:
"I just remember being so in awe of this violin."
“I’m just an ordinary teenage girl doing something that I love.”
Stand First:
When meeting the world’s youngest virtuoso since Mozart himself, you’d be forgiven for any pre-conceived assumptions of arrogance and self-importance; a trait often found in classical musicians, but Emily Trott possesses none of these. Instead, her most obvious personality trait is her refreshing humility.
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