Every year, I find myself eagerly packing up my cello and heading back to a course called Holiday Music. And every year, without fail, I leave the course feeling stretched, inspired, and more deeply connected to music and to people than I thought possible.
When I first joined, I was just hoping for a chance to play chamber music at my level. What I discovered was so much more. The music itself is the heart of it: every time, I get to play pieces that that push me just far enough beyond my comfort zone that I grow without feeling overwhelmed. Some works I’d never have dared to attempt on my own, but in this setting, with supportive tutors and fellow musicians beside me, I’ve managed to take them on—and enjoy them.
The tutors at Holiday Music are not just technically brilliant, but also generous and encouraging. They know how to get the best out of us, and they offer insights that stick long after the course is over. I’ve lost count of how many small tips or ways of thinking about a phrase have transformed my practice at home. It’s rare, as an adult learner, to receive tuition at this level, and I value it enormously.
Perhaps the biggest transformation for me, though, has been in performance. When I started, the idea of playing in front of others filled me with dread. I was terrified, convinced I would shake, stumble, and embarrass myself. But the course creates a safe space where performance is just part of the rhythm of the week. Playing in small groups, with friends who are just as invested as I am, I’ve gradually learned to let go of that fear. Now, not only can I perform with more confidence, but I’ve also developed resilience. Mistakes happen; nerves happen—but I no longer crumble. That’s a gift I carry into all kinds of situations outside of music.
Friendships form around the music. There’s something about sharing meals, rehearsals, late-night conversations, and post-performance laughter that builds real bonds. I’ve made so many new friends here, and many of them have become constants in my musical and personal life.
So why Holiday Music? Because it’s the rarest kind of environment: one where you can be challenged, supported, taught, and encouraged all at once. Where music isn’t just something you practice in a room alone, but something you share—with all its vulnerability, joy, and humanity. Every year I return, I feel like I come home to myself a little more.
– Antonella
