By Esther Lauaki
What’s your connection to Melton?
I grew up in Gisborne, but I went to school in Melton.
How long did you go to school in the area?
I attended Mowbray College from 2009 to 2012.
What are you passionate about?
Besides music, I am passionate about the beautiful animals I have in my life, a golden retriever and two border collies. I stopped horse riding when I entered VCASS (Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School) in 2013, but I would definitely love to start riding again.
Tell us how you started playing the French horn.
I have been playing French horn since I was nine years old, and I began while at Mowbray College in Melton. Since year 7, I have been studying at VCASS under the tuition of Linda Hewett.
What extra-curricular musical performances have you done?
I have been a part of Melbourne Youth Orchestras throughout my musical development, and for the past two years I have been a part of its flagship orchestra, Melbourne Youth Orchestra. These rehearsals take place on Saturdays. Some of us in the orchestra were selected in June to be a part of the MYO/MSO Side by Side Concert at Hamer Hall, conducted by Tianyi Lu, which was a humbling and eye-opening experience.
In February, I was also very fortunate to be selected to go on exchange to the Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, England for two weeks which strengthened my yearning to play French horn professionally in an orchestra one day, and expand my prospects overseas.
Where do you hope to go with your music?
The next couple of years will involve further musical study at university on French horn, which will hopefully mould me to become a professional orchestral musician in the future.
What does your typical week look like (rehearsals etc)?
At school, our days are spent half in normal academic classes and the other half of the day is spent in specialist classes, which for me are music classes focusing on my VCE music subjects, music styles and composition and music investigations.
What would people be surprised to learn about Audrey Witmore?
I love immersing myself in the other aspects of Melbourne’s art scene, especially going to NGV exhibitions and ballet performances. Getting outdoors and experiencing different natural environments.
