Music isn't a luxury, it's a right'

Unlike most classical musicians, when cellist Avery Waite graduated from the prestigious Juilliard School of Music in 2012, he refused to limit what he had learned to a stage. Born and raised in California, Avery wanted to take his music out of the practice room to the world. He strongly believes that music could heal the world. “I didn’t want what people called a good career. I wanted to take what I had learned and show people what music is really about and how it can touch lives,” says the American cellist.

Transcending borders, he traveled extensively to Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Jamaica, El Salvador and more recently, Syria and taught music through cultural diplomacy programs. Music shouldn’t be divided into “haves and have-nots” he says, “It shouldn’t be a luxury, it is a right.”

A cellist for almost two decades and a violinist for a couple, Avery started his musical journey as early as three. It was perhaps his family values that pushed him towards cultural diplomacy projects, he says. “I grew up in a liberal, socially and politically active community. My childhood involved a lot of volunteering and I grew up with a sense of cause.” When he went to Oberlin Conservatory for his undergrad, the elitism in classical music made him want to pick this path. It felt wrong to see music divided into “the haves and the have-nots,” he says.

In his maiden visit to the city, Avery is looking forward to experiences that will enrich his experiences further.

In his maiden visit to the city, Avery is looking forward to experiences that will enrich his experiences further. He is conducting a week-long orchestral development workshop in three groups who will also have the opportunity to take the stage with him at the closing of the week. “This workshop is about enjoying the music; it isn’t about playing a note perfectly. It is about freeing yourself of projections of success and building confidence,” he says. The workshop will be divided into three groups according to grades and will include violin, cello and any other string instrument and is priced nominally, at '750.

There is a certain seriousness that stems from nervousness in most musicians and it needs to be addressed, he says. “Music shouldn’t make you afraid to fail, you can play an imperfect note, don’t worry about messing up,” he assures, “Just open up and have fun.”The workshop won’t be your typical classical one either. “We’ve got some rock flavours, some Latin rhythms and even some movie tunes,” he says.             

Avery will be performing some original solos at the end of the workshop, along with the participants. Expect it to be a surprise, he says. “It will be more than music by Mozart and Beethoven. There will be compositions one has probably never heard before or even see some new string techniques on cello and the violin.” He will also be playing the Beethoven 9th symphony at with the Indian national Youth Orchestra next week.

What:  The Avery Waite Strings Workshop
When: April 3- April 8
Where: Bangalore School of Music, RT nagar