For the first time in two years, 17-year-old musician Samantha Roberts performed alongside other young musicians to a live audience. Selected as the principal flute, Samantha performed a repertoire of Beethoven, Emilie Mayer and Mozart for the Young Mannheim Symphonists' Intensive Concert.
The concert followed a five-day intensive program which ran in Sydney from April 19 to 23, the program had previously taken place online due to COVID-19.
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The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra organised the intensive with a focus on training young musicians in historically informed performance.
Samantha said a highlight was learning how to bring the tone and colour of historical instruments into modern performace.
"Some of the professional musicians brought in their historical instruments which was really interesting," she said.
As a flautist, Samantha said the main differences between a modern flute and classical flute were the material and keys. With the classical made of wood with holes along the body rather than keys.
While the intensive was held at Santa Sabina College, the final performance took place at the Hills Grammar School.
Three musicians were selected to introduce pieces, Samantha was selected to introduce the first movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in F major.
Alongside Beethoven, the orchestra performed Overture No. 2 in D major by Emilie Mayer and the whole of Mozart's Paris Symphony in D major.
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Samantha is currently in year 12 preparing major works for both music two and extension music.
Her dream is to study a bachelor of music specialising in performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music next year.
"I definitely want a career in music," Samantha said.
Sophie Bennett, Southern Highland News, 28 April 2022