Music Performance UNSW is delighted to announce Nicholas D’Silva as the winner of UNSW’s 2023 Concerto Auditions, for his performance of Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2.

The Music Performance Unit annually holds Concerto auditions, offering one to two performers an opportunity to be showcased in concert with UNSW Orchestra. The winning auditionees are selected based on artistic and performance proficiency, repertoire choice and the orchestration of their chosen concerto.

“I am honoured and grateful for the opportunity to present Weber's Second Clarinet Concerto in collaboration with Dr. Steven Hillinger and the UNSW Orchestra. I selected this piece for its operatic simplicity, and the refreshing positivity that it eminates. I hope that our performance invites others to appreciate this lesser-known work for the same reasons!”

The adjudication panel consisting of Dr. Steven Hillinger (conductor of UNSW Orchestra) and Emeritus artist of Australia Ensemble UNSW, Geoffrey Collins (flautist) were "highly impressed by the level of musicianship and virtuosity displayed by this year’s applicants."

To congratulate Nicholas, we sat down with him ahead of working with UNSW Orchestra to introduce him to the community and share his excitement to work with his fellow musicians. Find out more in the interview below!

Please introduce yourself!
Hello, my name is Nick D'Silva and I'm in my second year of studying a Masters of Information Technology at UNSW, where I specialise in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science & Engineering. Prior to this I completed a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium. I also like to eat good food and grow bonsai trees in my spare time.

How was the preparation process for the concerto auditions? Why did you pick this specific concerto?

It was my first time in a while preparing a substantial work, so I found the time management between practice and my studies a bit challenging at first - I found myself practising the piece whenever I was taking a break from studying. I picked this specific concerto because I liked the overall optimism that it seemed to project, without being too frivolous or unsubstantial either. I also think it appropriately reflects how I feel about my own life at this point in time, which is nice too.

Why are you passionate about music, and are there any musicians that inspire you?
I initially got into music because I was really inspired by how certain composers could skilfully manipulate harmonic, structural, and developmental systems in their works. I like when a piece is elegantly constructed, and when it doesn't necessarily have to rely on extramusical material to be fully appreciated. Most musicians that inspire me are therefore composers, such as Brahms, Prokofiev, Ligeti, Aho, and several more. In terms of performers, I am always inspired by performances of the clarinettist Nicolas Baldeyrou - I like his interpretations because they are always engaging, logical, stay true to the score, and are never unreasonably over-the-top in the way that some others can be.

Which qualities do you think make a great musician and why?
Apart from clearly being technically and artistically proficient, I think another quality that gets overlooked often is humility. I think a good musician should be open to (valid) constructive criticism, and open to continuous development and adapting. I believe musicians that are like this generally improve more quickly, and make for better collaborators and colleagues.

How will you prepare for the performance, and what are you looking forward to the most during the rehearsal process in Term 3?
To prepare for the performance, I will need to iron out a fair few passages, and make some concrete decisions so that I actually stick to them when practising and rehearsing. Hearing the full orchestral part in person is always inspiring, so I'm certainly looking forward to that, as well as working closely with all of the musicians of the UNSW Orchestra to create a unique, unified performance that invites others to appreciate this lesser-known work for the same reasons that I do.

Have you ever suffered from performance anxiety? How do you manage it?
Yes, I used to shake a lot while performing. This gradually stopped after having to perform many times in rapid succession throughout my time at the Sydney Conservatorium. I was fortunate enough to have a very dedicated chamber group throughout my time there, and performing with friends is always far less intimidating than alone. I think it is also worth remembering that it doesn't matter if you make a mistake - what really matters is how you manage it.

Any words of advice for our students pursuing music as a career?
I think it is important to keep in mind that being a musician and pursuing music as a career are two very different things that involve very different skill sets. That being said, I would like to encourage everyone to apply and push themselves as much as is healthily possible. I believe that I learnt a lot about myself during my music studies by doing this, and the mindset I developed from it has been applicable in a multitude of areas and invaluable to me ever since.

Nicholas will perform Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 with UNSW Orchestra on Friday 10 November 2023, at Sir John Clancy Auditorium.