Our fourth player profile for UYO2022 is violinist Jasmin Gallagher.
My name is Jasmin Gallagher and I am 18 years old. I have been a member of UYO since 2018, as it celebrated its 25th anniversary.
I recall being quite nervous when I first auditioned. Perhaps it was the daunting excerpts or playing in front of a panel for the first time! The first two years I auditioned in person and the last three years I have auditioned online. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn how an online audition works.
The very first year in UYO was perhaps the most unforgettable course since we performed at famous venues in Vienna, Austria and Slovakia, including the Slovak Radio Building in Bratislava. The repertoire was both enjoyable and demanding. We performed Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, Debussy’s Rhapsody for clarinet and orchestra, Gershwin’s American in Paris, Ryan Molloy’s piece Ogham and Hamilton Harty’s Children of Lir. The piece Ogham composed by Ryan Molloy was commissioned by the UYO for its 25th anniversary.
The UYO Play-In-Day was a great way to interact with members of the orchestra and make friends. It was a fun and interesting way to learn new pieces.
I participated in the Stringtime workshops project when string players performed as quartets at an Older People North West day-care centre in Derry.
It was one of the audience members’ birthday, so we played Happy Birthday and the audience joined in singing along. It brightened that person’s day, and the atmosphere was wonderful. I would love to be able to have the opportunity to play in the Stringtime workshop project again!
There was an incredible amount of repertoire covered in the last few years in UYO from Sibelius Symphony No.1, Liebermann’s Concerto for flute and orchestra, Hindemith’s Symphony Metamorphoses and Tchaikovsky’s Overture from Romeo & Juliet which was rehearsed in sectionals online.
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6, Pathétique is my favourite piece that we performed. I believe this is a popular opinion among the orchestral members! Rumon Gamba really showed how powerful and fascinating Tchaikovsky’s piece was. He also showed how to produce a hauntingly beautiful sound which Tchaikovsky intended in the piece.
Every year I audition, I get excited about the new repertoire we would be performing. The orchestra and staff are very friendly, and the environment is fantastic. I am glad I have been a member of UYO for a few years and I can’t wait to see new faces!
If you are new join the social activities, you will make new friends and meet people in the other instrumental sections of the orchestra. Don’t worry about not knowing anyone – there are icebreakers and many fun games which I am sure you will enjoy!
I can’t wait to see everyone in August!
