Not just musical talent!

08 August

Congratulations to Celine Ng, a member of our Sinfonietta String Orchestra, who won third prize in the Middle Primary section of the City of Subiaco Tim Winton Award for Young Writers.

Click here for more information about the award, and to read everyone's stories...

This was Celine's story:

The Visitor

I am sitting on my chair together with the other Sinfonette members playing "Monkey Dance" by Henry Purcell on my violin. By the way, I'm a member of the second violins in this string ensemble, which is made up of children ages 7 to 12. It is held at Edith Cowan University every Saturday. "Turn to Spring." says Jeanette, our conductor. After a long rehearsal, Jeanette said, "You have all worked hard and deserve a nice break!"

Kristy, who is my partner and I walked over to get cookies and have fun chatting and eating. When the cookies are gone, we walk back to the rehearsal room.

Jeanette is talking to someone. That man looks a lot like Antonio Vivaldi the famous composer from his pictures in the encyclopaedia. He is wearing a white shirt and a red jacket. His wig is white and long. Is there a fancy dress party going on?

"Say hello to Mr Vivaldi." says Jeanette. "Hello Mr..." We didn?t have time to finish. Mr Vivaldi cuts us short. "Yes, hello. I just came by to help you with your rehearsal as that was the worst "Spring" I have heard in a long time!"

Jeannette looks very pleased to receive help from the "Red Priest" and takes a seat in the corner. After all, Antonio Vivaldi was not only a great composer but a violinist as well. Mr Vivaldi corrects our dynamics, inserting crescendos and diminuendos so that there is contrast in our playing. Then, he unifies our bowing by correcting a few bowings here and there. Finally, he assisted us with our slurs and the piece now sounded fabulous!

Jeannette was impressed by our improvement and tapped Mr Vivaldi on the shoulder. Suddenly, Vivaldi turned bronze and stood still. We stared in astonishment. Kristy was flabbergasted and nearly fainted. He must be the statue in the front of the University. How does he get here?

Jeannette asked some of us to help carry him back to the front of the University. The rest of us just follow silently.

We stare at the bronze statue wondering if Mr Vivaldi really came to see us? Was our playing so terrible that we wake Antonio?

THE END