Michael Stocks decided to take up the violin he was five years old.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While some might be drawn to the sound or the mastery, Stocks chose his instrument for quite a different reason.
When the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra travelled up to Launceston, a violinist called Michael would visit and dine with Stocks’ family.
“His name is Michael, my name is Michael. He plays the violin, so will I,” Stocks said.
It was a decision that has lead to decades of violin playing and teaching.
He started teaching when he was in grade 9.
Stocks estimated he has taught more than 1000 students since then.
He said he enjoyed all different styles of music – whether it was writing orchestral parts for St Cecilia Orchestra, an organisation he has been involved in for decades, or playing with a rock band.
“You get a different type of buzz or adrenaline from different things.”
He is the concertmaster of the City of Launceston Philharmonic Orchestra.
“I somehow feel more nervous about tuning the orchestra than playing,” Stocks said.
“You don’t get to relax, especially in a symphony.”
It was similar when he was conducting the orchestra for Encore Theatre Company’s production of Les Misérables in 2018.
“Musicians often like the pressure.”
It wasn’t the first time he has conducted a production of Les Misérables – he also was involved in the Launceston Players’ 2001 show.
Stocks also played the first ever concert version of the production in 1989 on Australia Day.
He left for England to publish books after realising he was too busy in Tasmania.
After a year overseas, he returned to Australia and worked in Sydney for about a decade before moving back to Tasmania.
Launceston had a thriving arts scene that enabled people to work on multiple projects at the same time.
“People get blown away by the professionalism,” he said.
“The talent in Tasmania is incredible.”
He enjoys hearing his pieces performed, and teaching.
Teaching enabled him to watch violinists grow from children to adults with a love of music in their lives, Stocks said.
“I still get adrenaline from performing or conducting.”
Perfecting a piece was time-consuming, as was preparing for a concert.
A two-hour concert took months to prepare for, he said.
“Musicians think about the one or two notes they got wrong instead of the hundreds they got right.”
- City of Launceston Philharmonic Orchestra will play at the City Baptist Church in Launceston from 2.30pm on May 12.
- Backstage Pass is a series recognising the dedicated people behind the Tasmanian arts scene. Email t.brunton@fairfaxmedia.com.au to nominate someone.
Tess Brunton
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
