A symphony of success

VICTORIOUS violinist Michel Toutoungy has a new string to his bow after a dazzling display in this year’s annual music and drama talent extravaganza, the Bahrain Young Performers Festival, at the British School of Bahrain (BSB).

Student Michel, 15, who attends St Christopher’s School, secured first place in the Advanced category with his resounding rendition of Beethoven’s Spring Sonata 1st Movement.

He said: “For this competition I felt ready, I knew the way I wanted to play it, I put my personality into it and I felt confident, although I didn’t know I was going to win.

“I played with a piano accompanist, Ella from Life In Music, and I’m thankful because she’s a really good piano player and practicing with her helped a lot.”

Promising actors, singers and musicians took part in the three-day event, which showcased their talent.

Local schools and many specialist schools of music, dance and drama, including the BSB Academy of Performing Arts, Bahrain Ballet Centre, Victoria Dance, Lamda Bahrain, Life in Music and Bahrain Music Institute, entered students in support of the development of the arts in the kingdom.

There were Novice, Intermediate and Advanced classes in each instrumental discipline (piano, strings, brass, woodwind, percussion) as well as vocal, dance and speech and drama classes.

One of the competition’s judges, Stuart Sanders, 43, was quick to praise Michel’s performance. He said: “Michel gave us an assured and mature rendition of the Beethoven piece.  Excellent playing, combined with control and the quality of his tone gave this performance the edge over the other Advanced finalists.”

Syrian national Michel’s love of music began at an early age thanks to his mother Roula, 45, a teacher at the French School.

Michel, from Jasra, said: “When I was six my mum wanted me to take violin lessons. I wanted to play something simpler like the flute but she insisted and I’m glad she did because it’s now a big part of my life.

“My mum used to play piano when she was a kid and my 13-year-old sister, Thea, also plays piano. I guess music is in our blood.”

However, despite his musical talent, young Michel hopes to swap his bow for a scalpel and become a surgeon. He said: “For me music is a hobby, when I grow up I’d like to become a doctor, more specifically, a surgeon. My uncle is a dentist, my grandpa is a dentist but my dad’s cousin is a surgeon. I want to study in the US and I’d like to go to Harvard.

“I would not be put off by the gore to be honest, I think I’ve been desensitised by video games!”

In the lead up to the competition, Michel says his music teacher Mr Kremlicka was a huge help.

He said: “He does a lot for me, when I was preparing for the competition he gave me lots of tips and I really like his style of teaching. He has a well structured yet relaxed approach and this works best for me.

“I’d like to thank the school for giving me the opportunity to play in public, it organises lots of events where I get to play to a crowd which I enjoy.

“I’m really excited about the Young Musician of the Gulf competition in January, which the BSB competition was great practice for. I’ll be playing the same Beethoven piece I won with.”

The win at the Bahrain Young Performers Festival is not his first accolade. He recently won the Life In Music Etude Competition and took first place at the St Christopher’s Music Festival last year.