Meet the players!
An occasional series of interviews with regular members of St Paul's Sinfonia. No. 2: Victoria Rawlins, who is performing the solo viola part of John Woolrich's Ulysses Awakes in our January concert.
Describe your musical upbringing....
I started initially on the recorder about age 4 and then at my local junior school there was the choice of starting the violin in year 3 or the cello in year 5.... So I became a violinist - only learning the error of my ways and transfering to the viola aged 17. But I did play in local youth orchestras and string ensembles, then attended Junior Trinity for my A-levels.
Who are your favourite musicians, living or dead?
I think that the music of Mozart, Haydn and Brahms has to be amoung my favourites - there is very little I don't like that they have written. I would also have to put Nathan Milstein, David Oistrakh and Simon Rattle at the top of my favourite performing musicians.
What would be your dream concert programme?
Well - How long can the concert be? One that I was playing in would start off with something like a Haydn Symphony (say no. 23), Bartok Viola concert (me as soloist - of course!) with a second half of Scheherezade.
What is your earliest memory?
I don't know if I should tell you - It's being told off by a friend's mum... I think I must have been 3.
If I weren't a classical musician I'd be...
I would be an aeronautical engineer - but more specifically I want to build the HUGE jet engines that Rolls Royce make....
What are your favourite non-musical pastimes?
I think reading has to be in there - and I wouldn't be a proper musician if I didn't enjoy going out with friends to the pub.
What would your superpower of choice be?
To be able to stop time..... I could then do EVERYTHING I wanted.
Is the glass half-full or half empty?
I think it has to be half-full.
Tell us a joke
Why did the little boy bury his radio?
Because the batteries were dead
Others in the series: No. 1 Frida Backman