Bringing music to their lives
It takes a considerable amount of time to figure out what your child wants to pursue,” says Australian violinist Ursula Nelius. She recalls her childhood where she was shown a world of endless possibilities from the arts to sports but one thing stuck – music. While most of us are on the continuum between the present and future constantly debating what we aspire to become, at the tender age of four, Ursula was gifted the violin and a future.
The young violinists at a recent performance. Pic by Studio Colour Dreams
After her Bachelor of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium and being a principal member of the Sydney and Australian Youth Orchestras, she won a scholarship to pursue her Master of Music at the San Francisco Conservatory. But after two years of performing in San Francisco and eight years in Germany (some of her many travels) Ursula felt something was missing. “I felt like there was something more that I had to do,” she muses. On a whim she decided on a holiday in Sri Lanka in 2014 and describes her first emotion as she landed in the country as “calm”, soon falling in love with our island and its people – marrying a local from Galle and settling down in Sri Lanka in the following years.
Seeing a documentary of British Viola player Rosemary Nalden, who brought music back to the suburbs of Soweto, South Africa almost 30 years earlier, Ursula had her ‘Eureka’ moment. Thus last year, she established her own charitable organisation “Serendip Strings” in Galle. “I came back with that intention in mind –of opening doors for young people,” she says.
Initially starting with around 25 to 40, Serendip Strings now caters to over 100 students and is aimed at “providing a creative outlet for the children in Galle.” Ursula adds that it helps them artistically and academically. The method she teaches them, the Suzuki method pioneered by Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki, integrates the parents too. Ursula comments “A parent should become a little bit of a teacher even at home,” as this allows them to also witness the improvements, passion and excitement within their children for music.
‘Serendip Strings’ teaches Classical Western and Eastern music – Ursula herself handling the former and Lasantha Abeygunawardene the latter.
Ursula also believes in teaching her students lessons that they may not normally find within the four walls of a classroom -confidence, teamwork and responsibility – the students are allowed to hold a violin only when the teacher feels that they have mastered the basics of handling an instrument respectfully.
Ursula Nelius: Now on a musical journey with children. Pic by Sameera Weerasekera
Ursula remembers seeing the reaction of two six-year-old boys. “They picked up the instruments and immediately high fived each other,” Ursula smiles recalling how they beamed at her when they held their violins knowing that they were now entrusted with an important role in the class.
A stickler for technique and order, all students must tackle the basics before they embark on more complex material, Ursula says. Her golden rule is commitment – “The first step is to turn up and you will be rewarded.”
If the students are interested in becoming professional musicians, they are strongly supported in preparation for their tertiary education.
Children from all ethnicities congregate in the educational space provided by Serendip Strings, learning to play music together and in the process bridging differences.
Her musical journey in Sri Lanka continues and she contemplatively adds “the only thing you get back is satisfaction”as she continues her quest of igniting the spark of musical passion among students from diverse backgrounds in Galle.
| Come, listen to the young violinists | |
| On Saturday, September 2, Serendip Strings will be hosting their tri-annual concert from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Smyrna Church auditorium, 72 Havelock Road, Galle. Admission will be free.Sixty violinists between the ages 5 – 18 will serenade the audience with rich tunes from Classical Eastern and Western violin scores. Having had three concerts before Ursula excitedly remarks “It’s amazing to see them progress. They learn something new every time.” To ensure that Serendip Strings can sustain its future musical education Ursula encourages those who wish to sponsor or donate to show their support for the concert and Serendip Strings tuition trust. For more information on how to get involved with Serendip Strings visit their website www.serendipstrings.com.au or get in touch with Ursula Nelius by email at ursula@serendipstrings.com.au. For more information about their concerts and programmes get notified with updates from their Facebook page. |