Strings in harmony
Golden Bay’s Ortiz Minguez family is readying their bows for this week’s Schola Musica string chamber orchestra performances. From left are Leonardo, Chloe, Carla and Antonia. Photo: Supplied.
If there was ever an indicator of dedication, it would look like delicately wedging four string instruments and five people into a vehicle to traverse the Takaka Hill for weekly orchestra practises.
It’s not the easiest of undertakings – especially when two of the instruments are cellos – but Golden Bay’s Ortiz Minguez family are making it work.
The four children – 15-year-old Antonia, her 13-year-old twin sisters Carla and Chloe, and their 11-year-old brother Leonardo, are all members of the Schola Musica, which is a youth string chamber orchestra from the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts.
Antonia has been playing the violin since she was 12, and she says that although the instrument could be difficult and frustrating, when it all came together “it’s really fun”.
“It takes a lot of practice to get there,” she says.
Although the orchestra is more Mozart than Miley Cyrus, Antonia reckons her music tastes are diverse.
“Pop, rock, rap, jazz, country – pretty much anything.”
She learns pop songs by ear and has done a couple of busking sessions outside Tākaka’s Fresh Choice, to help pay for music lessons. The siblings are home-schooled and Thursdays are big days for them, as they pile into the family’s electric vehicle and head over to Nelson to do errands, music lessons and orchestra practise. Their father Juan says that although there are logistical challenges, the family is making it work.
“We wanted to support the kids in learning music, because it’s a gift. Music can come with you for the rest of your life.”
NCMA teacher Miles Jackson says the Schola Musica students learn skills of leadership, musical communication, coordination of bowing and sound, and how to develop the music imaginatively. The children share the soloist roles and the group has no conductor, with the young musicians taking turns to lead their sections.
Schola Musica’s end-of-year will take place this week at Motueka’s St Thomas Church on Friday, 29 November, at 4pm, and at Tākaka’s Kotinga Hall at 269 Long Plain Rd, on Saturday, 30 November, at 2pm. Both concerts have cash door sales only and cost $10 per adult and $5 per child.