AN INTERVIEW WITH MUSIC SCHOLAR – BEN MONRO

Could you describe how your interest in music developed and why you were inspired to make it a focus in your education?

My whole family have been musicians, my parents and grandparents were both involved in music, and once my big brother picked up his first instrument, my parents decided to introduce me to music. I started piano lessons at five years old, and then cello at five and a half. I started trumpet at seven years old, and all throughout my childhood I have played in orchestras and ensembles, strengthening my bonds with other musicians. My love for music has grown immensely from all the exposure and experiences that have come along with it.

What do you feel the School offers students through its music programmes?

The music programmes are something special, allowing access to world-class facilities like the new Snow Concert Hall. It gives us opportunities to grow as musicians and people in general. The programmes can also help students who may not have a musical background by giving them opportunities to discover other avenues that music brings as a source of inspiration and self-expression.

How do you think the opportunity of being awarded the Tim Murray Music Scholarship will help you on your path toward being an accomplished musician?

The scholarship will give me opportunities to perform, learn and develop as a person in the future.

What skills or goals are you aiming to accomplish by the end of your scholarship?

What was the scholarship application process like? What did you do to prepare?

The process for scholarship application was simple, as all that was needed was to apply online. We filled in an online application and added a resume of my experiences. Successful submissions received follow-up interviews to narrow the applicants down to one person.

I am aiming to develop not only my skills as a musician, but also mentally and socially, with music being the medium.

Who are some of your favourite artists? What makes them unique or stand out to you?

Despite being classically trained and growing up with a dislike of pop music from the early 2010s, I have discovered a few artists especially in rap. NF is currently my favourite artist, because of his unique ability to convey raw emotion and meaning in his songs. On the other end of the spectrum, I have also fallen in love with Hans Zimmer and his work on Interstellar, Inception and Dune. The simplicity and beauty of his art elicits the emotional response that I’m always looking for in music.