Summary

Agnes Laurens, a writer and violinist, reflects on her experiences playing the violin in prestigious concert halls across the Netherlands and Germany, her musical journey starting from childhood, and her current perspective on playing the violin as a hobby.

Abstract

Agnes Laurens recounts her experiences performing in renowned concert halls, including TivoliVredenburg and Konzerthaus Berlin, with various orchestras, such as The Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands. She began her musical journey with the cello at age 6 but quickly switched to the violin, inspired by her sister. Over the years, she had several teachers, including one from the conservatory in Zwolle who significantly influenced her technique and musical interpretation. Despite her passion for the violin, personal issues prevented her from pursuing a professional career. Nevertheless, she finds peace and relaxation in playing the violin and considers it a significant part of her life. Laurens currently resides in Bunnik, the Netherlands, and aside from playing the violin, she writes for the local newspaper and maintains an online presence through social media and her substack.

Opinions

Agnes cherishes the memories of performing in great concert halls and considers it a privilege.
She regrets not practicing enough as a teenager to pursue a professional career in violin.
The sound of a concert hall is a delightful surprise and contributes to the overall performance experience.
Playing the violin is not just a hobby for Agnes but a means of relaxation and self-expression.
Agnes values the discipline and camaraderie developed through playing in orchestras.
She appreciates the impact of her teachers on her violin technique and musical interpretation.
Despite not becoming a professional violinist, Agnes has made peace with her current level of playing and enjoys it immensely.

Classical music/violin

Playing The Violin in One Of The Greatest Concert Halls

Last Saturday evening I stood in the dressing room of one of the greatest concert halls in the Netherlands: TivoliVredenburg. I was playing in the Hertz hall. I haven’t played in this hall before.

Back of the CD of my recording with my youth orchestra. A great memory of my time in Germany. Photo credit: Author.

I have played in the grand hall as a teenager three times. The sound of the hall is always a surprise when you haven’t been there before. I was three amazing pieces with my orchestra. It was with comedy.

I have played in the grand hall of TivoliVredenburg years ago when I was about 16 years old with The Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands. Also with other orchestras and I loved it so much.

As a kid, those concert halls were so huge hall. Playing in one of the greatest concert halls is amazing.

The feeling of playing in an amazing concert halls

The feeling of playing in one of the best concert halls is tremendous. I mean, who doesn’t want to play in such concert halls?! I would. I did, last Saturday, and when I was a teenager.

When I was a teenager I had played in several concert halls with my (youth) orchestras. I have been playing in, as said, in The Youth Orchestra of The Netherlands.

I also have played with some project orchestras in The Concertgebouw. The first time was in 2003, as a 14-year-old young woman. In 2012 I played in The Concertgebouw again. It was an amazing experience, again. We all were coached by members of The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The first time, in 2003, I too nervous, but after all the concert went well. Playing the 9th Symphony by Dvorak is a huge experience. Looking for my parents (which I couldn’t find, haha).

You look through your eyes, wide open, to the amazing hall and its sound.

I was a teenager back then. I have played in The Youth Orchestra of The Netherlands when I was about 16 years old. It was a fantastic youth orchestra with which I have been on tour to Germany and playing there in one of the greatest concert halls in Berlin, Konzerthaus. This whole tour through a part of Germany was amazing. The first time going on tour with this orchestra.

When I was in Germany, I remembered that the hall was immense big, I remembered the red chairs of the audience. ‘My favorite color’, I thought.

Overall, it is an amazing experience and a deep feeling playing in such great concert halls, not only going to concerts there.

My musical past

I was about 6 years old when I started to play the cello. From the beginning, I didn’t like it, at least back then (now I do like it). I quit playing the cello one year later and I started playing the violin. I loved how my sister was mastering this instrument. I heard her practicing every day for hours. I wanted to play like her. So, I begged for playing the violin. So, I got a violin. I started playing the violin at the local music school. This teacher came from the north of The Netherlands. A sweet young man, but too sweet for me. He was not too strict for me. My first teacher got lessons from Viktor Liberman and was the assistant of Philip Hirshhorn.

Playing the violin means a lot to me

The title says it: I love playing the violin. I play the violin since I’m 7 years old. That tiny girl with a small…

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Then my teacher went back to the North and he was replaced. I got a female teacher. She was lovely too. I got lessons from her for about 9 or 10 years. At this time, playing the violin for fun was more a trend than having the discipline to practice every day and practice the right to be more able to play the music right.

In the meantime, I started playing at some orchestras. Learning to play with your fellow musicians is something you have to do when you’re playing an instrument.

When I was about 16 years old, I started to take lessons from an amazing teacher from the conservatory in Zwolle. I learned there so much more about the technique I used while playing the violin and why some of them were good, but I could do a lot better. And I also learned how I have to interpret the music of what I was playing. It was an amazing experience to learn more about how music can be and what I thought music was.

I wish I had done my best more when I was a teenager to practice the way to become a professional violinist. And then, yeah, I could play in those concert halls much more. Sometimes I dream about it. If I had practiced the way I should’ve practiced, I think I would have been a good violinist right now. But because of personal issues, I haven’t practiced the way I should have been practicing and it is a waste, I mean, I wanted to go to the conservatory, but I also knew I wasn’t ready for it.

Playing the violin has become a big part of my life right now. When I play the violin, I feel relax, I feel free, I’m myself.

Now I have peace with playing the violin for fun, as a hobby. But looking back, I knew I could’ve done better.

Read my thoughts

Agnes Laurens is a writer. She writes for the local newspaper. Agnes lives in Bunnik, The Netherlands, with her husband and three daughters. Writing is — aside from playing the violin — one of her passions since childhood. She is on Twitter and Instagram.

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