Imagine being able to brag that you heard Bach, Beethoven, or Beyoncé before they made it big. Now you can hear Montana’s finest fledgling talent before their upcoming feature at St. Timothy’s Summer Festival.
On Sunday, August 7 at 4:00 p.m., Breana McCullough (viola), Stephanie Anderson (trumpet), Erin Equall, and Cami Kohler (piano and violin duo) headline the Young Montana Musicians Spotlight at St. Timothy’s Memorial Chapel in Georgetown Lake. First though, MTPR was honored to welcome Brea and Stephanie to the studio for an intimate recording session.
We also talked with some of the young virtuosos for a glimpse into what makes them tick.
MTPR: When did you pick up your instrument? Did you love it right away?
Stephanie Anderson: I picked up trumpet in 4th grade and I think I loved it right away, but I tried a few different instruments such as the violin, trombone, and a couple percussion instruments before I settled on the trumpet.
Erin Equall: No, definitely not! It took a lot of encouragement and help from my parents to get me to stick with it to where it was enjoyable to play.
Brea McCullough: I started playing viola when I was 10 years old. I was very excited about studying viola.
MTPR: How do you work through nerves before a performance?
Brea McCullough: I wouldn’t say I have ever been able to “work through” my nerves before a performance but have rather learned how to use them to my advantage.
Stephanie Anderson: I like to remind myself that having nerves shows that I care about the performance so that I'm less nervous about being nervous. I also try to drink water and eat plenty of carbs because they help me feel like I'll have enough energy for the performance.
MTPR: If you could perform with any musician (living or not) who would it be and why?
Erin Equall: I know he's not really a performer, but it would be an absolute dream to collaborate with my all time favorite composer, Dimitri Shostakovich. I've never heard a piece of his that I didn't like, and his life story is incredible and moving.
Brea McCullough: Currently I would say Lillian Fuchs. She has a distinguishing career as a violist and composer going as far as to impress well-known violist William Primrose. I find her extremely relatable as well in regards to her admiration of J.S. Bach, viola pedagogy, and her career in chamber music.
MTPR: Is playing music more solitary or social to you?
Stephanie Anderson: Music is a mix of these for me. Music started out as a solitary activity for me and I enjoy playing by myself, but I also enjoy playing in an ensemble because there's a lot more things that an ensemble can do chord-ally, melodically, and emotionally that a soloist can't.
Erin Equall: It really depends on what I'm playing. I find that certain pieces are much easier for me to be honestly expressive with in private, and some, especially ones I'm performing with other people, are much more moving with an audience.
MTPR: It’s a post-apocalyptic world and you’re the only person left alive. Aliens appear with the power to resurrect the world if only you can describe it - but you’ve lost the power of speech, and your only way to depict life before extinction is music. What song do you play?
Brea McCullough: I would play a composition by Bach. Perhaps his Cello Suite No. 5.
Erin Equall: I suppose I'd need more people to make this piece complete, but I'd play Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2. It's filled with so many different emotions and turmoil, mixing happy with sad in so many complex ways.
To hear these award-winning young Montanans live in action, head up to Georgetown Lake to catch their performance at St. Timothy’s Summer Music Festival at 4:00 p.m. on August 7.
The “intimate, acoustically divine venue”, St. Timothy’s Memorial Chapter, is only an hour and a half journey from Missoula, and a mere hour’s drive from Butte. Tickets can be found online at sttimothysmusic.org, $20 for adults and $15 for those 18 and younger. Last minute attendees may purchase tickets at the door for $25.
