TAMARA HOLSINGER

“Beethoven is such an iconic figure in the music industry and is the most frequently performed composer in western classical music. Constantly breaking the norms and stretching musical form, he oversaw the transition of music from classical into the romantics”

1 WHAT DREW YOU TO MUSIC?

Music runs in my family. My great-aunt, Averil

Bartholomeusz, who was in the SOSL in its early years was the only cello teacher in the island for a long time, and my mother was the leader of the orchestra’s cello section as well. From the time I was very young, the cello was the only instrument I wanted to play.

2 HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN SO FAR PERFORMING WITH THE ORCHESTRA?

I’ve been playing in the SOSL from the time I was about 14 years old. It’s been a part of my life for so long that it has come to signify much more than music—it’s where my friends are. It’s a place where I’ve learned that you’re never done learning when it comes to music, and that’s a humbling yet inspiring lesson.

3 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE BEETHOVEN’S MUSIC?

Intense. Emotional. It can leave you in tears and just as quickly make you feel like the sun just came up on a dark landscape.

4 WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST INTERESTING ABOUT BEETHOVEN?

The way his compositional style kept evolving— starting with works that sound very ‘classical’ to those that verge on the Romantic. That is what’s special about his music—it has a range and depth of expression that is unparalleled. His influence on following generations of composers pushed music to a higher plane altogether.