FLYING INTO MELBOURNE FOR A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME COMPETITION

This July, 14 of the best young chamber ensembles from around the world (including Australia’s own Affinity Quartet) will come together for the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (MICMC). Launched in 1991, and held every four years, MICMC has been a career-launching platform for winners such as the Vertavo Quartet (2011), Eggner Trio (2015) and St Lawrence String Quartet (2018). With a prize of over $150,000, MICMC is open to string quartets and piano trios of all nationalities under the age of 35.

But how will their valuable instruments get here?

Professional musicians face many problems when they travel with their most treasured assets. It is all too easy for these delicate and irreplaceable tools, which often come with centuries of history, to be damaged in transit. These risks affect how artists weigh the pros and cons of touring to places like Australia.

Due to their size, cellos can’t be carried on as hand luggage. The alternative of putting them in a flight case in the hold and risking rough treatment by handlers is often unacceptable. Consequently the only choice for many cellists is to purchase an additional seat for their beloved instrument. For cellists, travel is expensive, a cost that many artists struggle to afford early in their career.

That’s where our generous Cello Champions can come to the rescue. This campaign aims to raise enough funds to cover the cost of cello transportation to and from MICMC, allowing more young musicians to participate and bring their music to you.

‘We know that instrument transportation can be a major obstacle for musicians who want to travel for performance opportunities,’ says Anne Frankenberg, CEO of Musica Viva Australia. ‘We are thrilled to be launching the Cello Champion campaign so that we can bring the world’s best young chamber musicians together in Melbourne.’

This issue has resonated with supporters across the country who have experienced the challenges of travelling with cellos themselves. ’I have always loved the cello, and know the difficulties of transporting these large, delicate instruments,’ says Jenny Donald, NSW. ‘My daughter started learning the cello at the age of seven. So I did a lot of cello transport. I remember taking a full-size cello case when shopping for a new car to make sure it would fit along with two children and their school bags, to the bemusement of the car salesmen.’

As she often accompanied her daughter on tour, Jenny has first-hand recollections of the challenges faced by cellists. ‘I have very vivid memories of struggling with cellos in the snow and ice, and of cellos occupying seats in the bus as they couldn’t go in the luggage compartment because of the cold.’

MVA FutureMaker Daniel Smith says, ‘One of my favourite aspects of being a musician has become international travel; exploring new cities and bringing your hard work to showcase it to a new audience and meeting new people, some of whom will be lifelong mentors and friends.’ While playing in youth orchestra programs, his cello had to be stored in the hold. While Dan’s cello came out physically unscathed, he talks of watching his cello fall ungracefully onto the tarmac, and friends’ instruments coming back with gigantic holes and snapped necks.

He continues, ‘The stress caused by not knowing how your priceless instrument is faring in transit is one of the worst feelings. For my latest international trip, with the generous support of Musica Viva Australia, the Australian Youth Orchestra and the Curtis

Institute in Philadelphia, I was very privileged to have my cello beside me the whole way, providing me with peace of mind to ensure I performed at my best ability at the other end. This isn’t always financially viable for cellists to do alone – and I certainly couldn’t have done it, without this generous accident-proofing support.’

For artists, their instruments are not just their livelihood, but an extension of their identities. We are sincerely grateful to our generous donors who understand this relationship that underpins the foundations of all the performances we will be privileged to witness in July during MICMC.

Packages and single tickets for MICMC are already on sale; book online at musicaviva.com.au/micmc