What Role Classical Music Has In My Life

Classical music is actually, to be honest, everything to me. I love playing the violin a lot and I love listening to classical music a lot. I listen every day to classical music. It is such a joy. You become very seriously in life, but at the same time, you make a lot of fun together.

Classical music is my favourite genre (I barely listen to other kinds of music). Since a little child, I play a musical instrument, started with playing the cello, then I prefer playing the violin and I also sang in a children choir. I was busy playing music a lot in my life.

Violin lessons

In the first place, I started playing the cello with the Suzuki method at the music school in Utrecht when I was six years old. I didn’t want to go to cello lessons. I was telling the teacher what she has to do. That is not the way it should be, haha.

When I was seven years old I started playing the violin with Arjen Beintema. He was such a sweet teacher, but he wasn’t strict enough for me. I remember the concert at the end of the year. It was my turn year to play, but I was too nervous and too shy to play. I didn’t want to go on stage. After all, I did and I played well.

After one year studying with Arjen Beintema, I started studying with Nanette van Amerongen. I have been studying with her for about nine years. I always had fun with her. I learned a lot studying with her.

At the age of 15, I started playing the violin with a great teacher from Het Gelders Orchestra. She knew exactly what I needed and how to practise in a better way. This teacher was Sylvia van der Grinten, and she was teaching at the Conservatory of Zwolle. In the same period, I wanted to go to the conservatory. This way, I could go through a programme before the first year of most conservatory students going to.

In this same years when I was with Van der Grinten, I still was studying with my second teacher for about two years. Every two weeks I got lessons from one another. I loved both very much.

I think I needed more time to be ready for going to the conservatory. Unfortunately, I didn’t go that direction in my life as I was expecting my first child. That became my number one priority.

Orchestras

My very first youth orchestra was amazing. I had the best time of my life there. Playing with other children of the same age. I remember going on tour with them twice. I loved it so much that I cried when the tour was over. I could be very emotional when the tour was over, then I knew that I loved the tour and the people I was with very much. The first time I came into this orchestra, I was about 9 years old. My sister just left that orchestra and I came in that orchestra. I remember that there was also a third violin section. I came into that section. Next to someone who was about 17 years old and she taught herself playing the violin. I also remember that I went to the second violin section after three months (after the summer holidays — I started playing there in the middle of the season). 1,5 years later I went on tour with them for the first time, to the Chech Republic. I also remember the rehearsal weekends. It was always fun, going to bed very late and a lot of rehearsal. One thing I hated was the pain in my shoulders I got during the rehearsals in those weekends. Apparently I didn’t get the right attitude sitting on my chair. Later on, I went on tour with them again, to Southampton in the United Kingdom. Also, we did an exchange with an orchestra from Southampton. This orchestra was called Youth Orchestra of Nieuwegein. And this was my very first orchestra. During the tour to Southampton, I played football with all my orchestra mates against the orchestra of Southampton. That was a memorable memory for me. When I think back to this time, I learn so much. How I have to play in an orchestra, but also more technical stuff on my violin as well being surrounded by people and able to be socialized. I also went on tour with this orchestra to Germany, Leipzig and Halle.

At the age of 15, in 2003, I started playing in a much better youth orchestra. These children became my friends. They all were about the same age, or a little bit older. But also, with this orchestra, I went on tour to Italy. We played in a lot of churches during a festival for amateur orchestras. This orchestra was called Amersfoorts Youth Orchestra. I got a few great friends. On that tour in Italy, I remember that it was really hot weather, but also that one concert was cancelled because of the rain that evening even when it was very hot. And there was a thunderstorm going on.

In the same year starting with my new orchestra, I started playing in The Yourhorcestra of The Netherlands. This orchestra was (and I believe still is) conducted by Jurjen Hempel. His joy for music still stands with me. He always looks very serious, but his joy for music was memorable. With this orchestra, I went on tour to Germany. We went to Berlin and around. I have played with them in Konzerthaus Berlin. That was an extraordinary experience. I loved it there. Also, at the end of this tour, we played at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. This has been recorded and it is a CD now. This orchestra is the best youth orchestra in The Netherlands.

Around 2003, I also started playing in a student orchestra. We have played such beautiful work. I think I played here for about four years. I don’t remember that. But I remember that I have been on tour with them as well. We went to France, Strasbourg to be precise. We went camping. Also, we had concerts there.

Now I am playing in The Orchestra of Utrecht. A lovely great amateur orchestra. We have fun together and you hear the joy of playing music together. We work on programmes every few months.

Queen of The Netherlands

In 1999, the former Queen and her family visited my village for Queensday. For this occasion, the music school formed an orchestra with all the students who wanted to play in that orchestra. I wanted and guess what? I was the concertmaster! Also, there was formed a choir from every school in my village. There was also a choir from the village who sang the main melody and was the leader of all the school choirs. I was on TV as the Queen passed by the orchestra. It was live on TV and my parents were watching it on TV.

Musical projects

I think it was 2002 when I participated along with the Radio Philarmonic to play together with them. It was a project from this orchestra. I remember we had a long day with a rehearsal with them. I was picked to be sitting next to the concertmaster! This was recorded live on the national radio and this was also recorded live on a CD.

In 2003 I participated in a big musical project. I played with the ‘Groot Entrée Orchestra’. An orchestra made from musicians who are members of their organisation. This organisation select concert these members are allowed to enter for a low price. Especially for young children, like me back then. I remember I had to do an audition in the form of a lesson from members of the Concertgebouw orchestra. I was too nervous and I thought I ruined the audition at all. But I was surprised I got the letter with the news I was invited to play with this orchestra. Second violin section third desk. That was quite something for me at that time. We rehearsed for three weekends every week. In the first weekend, we got section lessons from the leader of the second violin section of the Concertgebouw. In the second weekend, we had two tutti rehearsals. The Concert was in the third weekend in the grand hall of The Concertgebouw.

In, I think, 2004, I participated in a music project with the Southampton Symphony Orchestra. These professionals played a modern piece on their programme when they were on tour in The Netherlands. In that weekend they also programmed an education programme for teenagers. In this piece, we had to improvise what we wanted. Standing on stage learning, from the musicians from the Symphony orchestra, about the piece and how you have to improvise. It was quite an experience. There was also a moment I could show off with a violin solo. We also had a concert the next day in the small hall of the Concertgebouw.

In 2012, when I already had two daughters, I participated again with ‘The Groot Entrée Orchestra in the Concertgebouw. This time, I might play with the second violin section. It was amazing that I was playing on the fourth desk. Sometimes, it is important where you sit in the orchestra, the better you are. We played the same symphony as in 2003, but that was totally a different orchestra and not with the same people. In 2003 I was the youngest and in 2012 I was the oldest — also my last year I might participate with this project orchestra. Als, this time the concert was in the grand hall of The Concertgebouw.

When you play in such a great hall, you look out your eyes, how amazing, wonderful and huge this hall is and what sound you can make in such a concert hall.

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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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