“I never really imagined I’d ever make it this far”. 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. When 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. 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.
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