Sadly we had to say goodbye to our Learning & Participation Intern Alex yesterday. But before the cake and thank yous she reflected on the last two months here with us. Read on to find out more…
Two months have passed since my last Intern Diary entry, and as corny as it sounds, I feel like I’ve undergone a bit of a metamorphosis. Through all the madness leading up to the festival, I was transformed from a measly intern, furiously scribbling notes during team meetings, to an integral co-ordinator in the execution of events attended by hundred of guests. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to help produce and assist with a festival of such high standards and with such dedicated and passionate folk.
One of the most incredible parts of the experience was being able to see the immediate results of all our hard work. Unlike other jobs, our sure sign of a successful event was in faces of the audience members attending it. I was able to see little babies laughing with joy, families and friends cheering for their loved ones, and whole audiences brought to contemplative silence by beautiful music. People came up to me and thanked me for providing them with an amazing musical experience; performance artists thanked me for my support throughout the entire process. And all of this invaluable feedback only fuelled my desire to work harder and more diligently at producing the best two-week festival we could possibly create.
Alex with Music Animateur Apprentice Bimbi Urquhart and Programme Manager: Learning & Participation Cathy.
More than that, I also had the opportunity to bear witness to a lot of remarkable music myself! Despite the fact that every day and every performance with which I was involved was unique and exciting, there are definitely some highlights that stand out in my mind. My personal favourites include:
- Musical Rumpus: A Fairy Queen in the Forest - The most spectacularly beautiful set and singing a room full of babies could ask for! I loved how everyone was fully encouraged to muck in on the mat and be part of the magic.
- Women sing East - It was unbelievably gratifying seeing the 40 women I had managed all term have their moment to shine in Shoreditch Church. Laka D was as charismatic as always, and I even got a shout out in their last song!
- Platform - This abundance of talented youth reminded me of the years I spent growing up with music. I especially enjoyed watching my beloved line manager, Cathy, get all teary-eyed over her Phoenix School’s performance – a mesmerising composition they collectively wrote.
- Double bill Britten Sinfonia and the Royal Holloway and Matthew Barley: Protecting the Veil - I found the powerfully melancholic Baltic music of the accompanied choir completely captivating, and then, to suddenly see the lights dimmed, candles lit and a church transformed for the moving cello music of Matthew Barley afterwards made for a truly amazing evening.
Musical Rumpus: A Fairy Queen in the Forest
As I tidy my things and empty my desktop recycle bin, I only wish I had bit more time to fully digest the scale of what I helped accomplish in these last few weeks. For that, I’d like to wholeheartedly thank every member of this extraordinary team for welcoming me into the Spitalfields Music family and making these past three months unforgettable.
Alex Lepinski
Learning & Participation Intern
