Lee Lewis

Lee Lewis

The Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre salutes a primary school music program, which has proved a real gift for life.

When I was little, growing up in country NSW, there was a government program to encourage classical music in primary schools. They gave instruments to the schools and organised for subsidised lessons with local music teachers during school time. After a year of learning, all these new players in the town were gathered together to form a local primary schools orchestra. This evolved into a high schools orchestra.

 My school got violins. Along with five other girls in my class, I was loaned a quarter size violin and introduced to Sr Mercedes, a Josephite...