Young Artist Profile: Callum McLachlan

How long do you think it takes for a chamber ensemble to gel?

How long is a piece of string? I am lucky to have quite a few regular chamber partners who I’ve always clicked with since the first meeting. Other times it may never be as you want it! In general, the longer you play together, the better.

What is it about music that made you want to follow it as a career?

After watching Amadeus, the Great film about Mozart, I realised I didn’t want to do anything else. The music is simply too remarkable, too variable and profound not to do it!

If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing instead?

An Actor or writer. My two other deep passions, though sadly I’m not so wonderful at either! But I have the deepest respect for those that can

Who would you say is your greatest musical influence or hero? Why?

My parents. Their musical opinion I respect more than any other, despite us disagreeing a lot as I age! My dad was my first teacher, and he taught me discipline, putting the music first and provided the base for my further development.

My teachers Dina Parakhina at Chethams was the other pillar in my life for 7 years. Without them I don’t know where I’d be. For Bachelors I was with Claudius Tanski, and now I’m studying with Jacques Rouvier and Claudio Martinez Mehner. Three of the most honest, utterly outstanding musicians I’ve known. I learn from them not just every week, but every day whilst practicing.

Of the music you’re performing at the festival, which piece or composer resonates with you most strongly? Why is this?

Schumann – His way of articulating specific human experiences into the most immediate and deeply resonating emotions is remarkable. It’s music which comes quite naturally to me. The form is very interesting, as most of the variations are in C sharp minor, the home tonality. The posthumous variation number 5 is (alongside the finale) the only major variation that I play, and it’s really two of the most perfect, ethereal and trance like minutes of music you’re likely to hear.

Would you say you have learnt anything from during the pandemic? Was there anything that you used to take for granted?

The importance of friends. I was quite lucky during the pandemic – I spent 3 months in my halls of residence in Salzburg with 12 dear dear friends. Living each day with no goals other than to enjoy the moment and feel it fully. This was an important lesson

What are you fears as a musician?

It’s a future one, but the difficulty of maintaining freshness in often played works. I haven’t experienced it yet, but in a long career, when one performs the same pieces very frequently, this is always a consideration to be observed.

What do you want to achieve as a musician?

I want to get as close to a convincing, faithful and truthful performance of whatever I am performing. It’s a goal none of us reach, but to present the music and to make the audience feel “Wow, what a Sonata, what a work of art” – this would be quite wonderful. I’d love to record most of the works of Schumann, Brahms and Grainger.

What’s standing in your way?

At this moment, not much – perhaps just myself at times!