Thursday 1 August 2019 12:12pm
Tessa Dalgety-Evans. Photo: Pieter Du Plessis.
Tessa Dalgety-Evans can often be seen carting her cello on her back through campus.
The 20-year-old second year Bachelor of Music, in cello performance, and Bachelor of Arts in English and Linguistics, and Māori studies, student has a passion for expanding her skills in many different avenues.
However, there’s no denying Tessa has music in her blood – she grew up listening to her mother Ursula Evans play violin with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Originally from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), the Otago student attended the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra National Youth Orchestra in early July for the third time.
The National Youth Orchestra comes together once a year with young instrumentalists auditioning from throughout the country for a chance to perform demanding orchestral works. This year the orchestra combined with the New Zealand Youth Choir to celebrate the program’s 60th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of the NZYC.
Conductor James Judd led the performances; alongside the world premiere of 2019 National Youth Orchestra Composer-in-Residence Work Glen Downie. With the following performances presented Tuirina Wehi’s Waerenga-a-Hika (arranged by Robert Wiremu), Sibelius’ The Oceanides and Elgar’s The Music Makers.
“What was special for me was being selected as associate principal cello, sitting next to my old childhood friend from Wellington who led the section. We were a great team!” Tessa says.
“ I love how music expresses so much of what it means to be human. It’s a way of expressing where you come from and who you are.”
While at the event in Te Whanganui-a-Tara she also took her chance to join Choral Connect, a choir conducting course, where she took part in workshops, lectures and presentations, as well as a master-class where she led the Toronto Children’s Chorus in song.
At six years old Tessa started her first lessons on the piano. She began her musical education through the Suzuki method, an alternative music-learning method based on the philosophy of music educationalist Dr Sinichi Suzuki, in which students are taught similarly to how a native language is taught – through listening.
“The whole thing is about developing the ear. The awesome thing is that it emphasises a parent, teacher and child relationship, where all three work together to support the child’s musical development,” Tessa says.
She credits the method for helping her develop rhythm, pitch and musicality from a young age.
After three years tapping away at the keys of the piano diligently, Tessa’s mother asked her whether she would consider learning the cello. The enthused nine-year-old was off to her first lesson with her “funky” beginner cello books in arm not long after.
Tessa performed in the Wellington Youth Orchestra and the NZ Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra while in school, as well as taking part in the NZCF Chamber Music Contest.
“I love how music expresses so much of what it means to be human. It’s a way of expressing where you come from and who you are.”
After graduation she still was not sure what she wanted to focus on in tertiary education.
“For me, it wouldn’t feel right studying only a BA or a MusB. I wasn’t fully sure at the end of high school. I wanted a break from the intensity of high school – so I went on a gap year which gave me the time to think and become clearer about plans for university.”
She decided to head to the United Kingdom, where she worked at a primary boarding school and took the opportunity to help children with their music studies.
Naturally, she took her cello with her, taking lessons with a local teacher and attending a music summer school in Edinburgh.
“Music has taught me so much and it continues to. You really learn how to listen and I think that skill is crucial for anyone’s development.”
Tessa auditioned for the University music programme while in the UK, and after returning to New Zealand, she made the journey south to Ōtepoti (Dunedin). At the University, she learns cello from Dr Heleen Du Plessis.
“I’m definitely someone who feels that you never stop learning when it comes to music. It’s lifelong.”
Now in her second year at St Margaret’s College she is the Arts Rep on the Student Executive Committee. Her role involves co-ordinating all things musical at the College, including the choir and performances at the fortnightly formal dinners.
Since moving to Dunedin Tessa has been performing with the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, where she leads the cello section, as well as the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Cellists Otago and the Southern Youth Choir.