Emma McGrath is a violinist and celebrated concertmaster of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. This Off Season, she will be performing an iconic piece, The Lark Ascending, on 2 May at Federation Concert Hall.

Where did you grow up, and where is home now? I grew up in northern England, although I moved to London to study and to perform, and then to the US. I’ve been lucky that music has taken me all over the world. I moved to Hobart in 2016 and this feels like home.

You’ve played in orchestras globally. How did you end up settling in Tasmania, and how is Tasmania different from other places you’ve lived? When the role of concertmaster of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra came up, I was working with the Seattle Symphony, which is a fabulous orchestra in one of America’s most wonderful cities. I had just had my second baby and wanted a change of pace and focus. In Seattle my role was co-concertmaster, which is like juggling two jobs instead of one. I wanted one job that I could throw myself into wholeheartedly. Like Hobart, Seattle has a thriving cultural scene and great restaurants. But life in Tasmania and with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra is…different. I feel like I can be a committed musician here and also a well-rounded human.

What is the job of a concertmaster? If you come to a concert, I’m the violinist at the front who stands up before the performance begins and signals to the oboist to begin playing the note ‘A’ so that the orchestra can tune. But I promise there’s a little more to it than that! In most orchestras, the concertmaster is secondin- charge to the conductor. We make decisions about how a piece of music should be played and we’re responsible for high musical standards and good conduct. We’re also a sounding board and mentor to the other musicians. Oh wait, you have to be a good violinist too! At the TSO, I often perform as a soloist with the full orchestra and as a chamber musician in our smaller concerts around the state. I’m involved with committees and auditions, I liaise with all parts of the organisation on and off the stage and I’m a spokesperson for the orchestra.

What’s the one thing about being in an orchestra that you wish more people knew? Most people don’t understand how much work it takes to have the opportunity to perform on stage with a professional orchestra. We usually have three rehearsal days together as an orchestra before a concert. However, before that, it takes many hours for each musician to prepare for that program. And think of the years of training before that. In my case, I’ve been taking violin lessons since age three and have played almost every day of my life since. It’s an absolute honour to do what we do, and it brings immense satisfaction.

Tell us about your upcoming show as part of the Off Season, The Lark Ascending. The Lark Ascending is a timeless piece for solo violin and orchestra. It’s like a meditation – you will be transported to verdant pastures and sweet birdsong. Hopefully the experience will make you hold your breath and wonder why time has stood still. When I play this piece, I feel that all the chaos of life is left behind. The aim is for the listener to be enchanted by the peace and wonder of a violin depicting a lark soaring ever higher.

Do you get musical inspiration from the outdoors? Absolutely! The Lark Ascending is a special piece for me as it’s by an English composer, Vaughan Williams, and it evokes feelings and memories from my childhood. But now when I play, I am also influenced by the landscape and birdlife of Tasmania. There are so many incredible places on this island and I am constantly inspired by it. Getting out into nature is essential for me as a musician.

What do you love about Tasmania’s wild places in winter? I love a crisp sunny winter morning, when you can go for a brisk walk on a beach and still see snow at the top of Kunanyi. I love the way the Derwent can be calm in the morning and then churning and almost made invisible by a storm in the afternoon. I love how truly dark the darkness is, and the clarity of the stars in the night sky.

Where is your favourite place for a bushwalk in winter? Anywhere on Kunanyi. My favourite thing is to rug up, put on wet weather gear if needed, do a walk and then warm up by the fire in the little shelter at The Springs. And then get a treat from the Fern Tree Tavern…bliss. I love the west coast in the winter – the Pieman River at Corinna is just spectacular. It will be rainy and misty almost continuously, but it’s wonderful. It’s a different world out there.

What’s your tip for becoming a winter person in Tasmania? Get some quality cold and wet weather gear so you can brave the outdoors without being miserable. Make plans with friends to get out and about. My favourite winter ritual is to get the fire going and make s’mores with the kids.

What do you love about the Off Season? I love that there’s no shortage of things to do, such as the Willie Smith’s Mid-Winter Series and Dark Mofo. We play all year round at the TSO and some of my favourite concerts for the year are between May and August. We’re playing the music from the film Psycho! in June, Grieg’s famous Peer Gynt in July and Beethoven’s Emperor in August. I also like that winter is more reflective, it’s a time to nourish yourself and recalibrate. And Tasmania is a great place to do that.

Created in partnership with Tourism Tasmania. For more discovertasmania.com.au/off-season