Young Women to Watch
Jocelyn Chambers A conversation with composer Jocelyn Chambers is a dazzling whirl of wit and wisdom. She is as comfortable discussing the nuance of Loki from summer blockbuster The Avengers as she is singing the praises of her “best friend,” Beethoven. Chambers radiates the focused, intense energy you’d expect from the teen so talented to compose the lush My Heart for the Texas Young Composers Concert and see it come to life at The Long Center. At 15, the virtuoso possesses the sweet exuberance and joie de vivre of many her age, tempered with a thoughtful perspective far beyond her years.
80 Austin Woman o c t o b e r 2 0 1 2
AW: When was your first music lesson? Jocelyn Chambers: Piano at age 7. Miss Kristin was a high-school student who taught me once a week. We played Chutes and Ladders. I’m influenced by my composition teacher, Dr. Rachel McInturff. I studied with her for about a year at the Armstrong Community Music School. Such a sweet soul. She always asks how I’m doing. When I’m in a slump, she offers inspiration. She never runs out of ideas. AW: What’s a typical day like for you? JC: I wake up. I go downstairs, get on the computer. I prepare for the day, so I have my lunch made the night before, clothes laid out. I take one or two classes, study, sit around, relax, blog. I try to blog every day. AW: How do you get out of creative slumps? JC: I have absolutely no idea. Mr. Inspiration and I generally get along for the most part. But occasionally, he decides to go on vacation without notice. I am left by myself, trying to do what I can with what I have. I want him to get a summerhouse and stay with me in Texas. The rest of the year, he can do what he wants.
AW: How do you define success? JC: A lot of people say the American dream is going to college, getting your dream job, a nice car, a great house. With the world today, the American dream has been lost somewhere in the deficit. I figure your success is what you want it to be. If you want to be a cupcake-shop owner and you get your shop, you’re happy. I don’t know if success is what people say it is; it’s what you make it. AW: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? JC: I see myself with an Oscar. Why not start early? I want to have a library, a music library, reading library, writing library. I want to go to Narnia, London. I want to meet the queen. I want to go to Oxford, wear oxfords at Oxford, collect dust. Catch Jocelyn Chambers affecting a very convincing British accent while guiding guests to their seats as a volunteer usher at The Long Center, and stay in touch by visiting her blog, thecupcakedictionary. blogspot.com. Chambers is currently working on a project to benefit victims of the Aurora Tragedy. Follow her progress at songsofthesuperhero.org.