It’s been a whole year since Rachel Waters, our Extended Learning and Provisions Manager, joined Gloucestershire Music. Today we took some time to look back on the year and find out some new things about her!
Q. So, Rachel, what does your job title really mean?
What a great question! Essentially, I oversee any of our activity that isn’t school-based; so ensembles, concerts, events etc.
Q. How has your first year in the job been?
Well it was certainly an interesting time to start a new job! My interview for the job was just a few weeks before the first lockdown so, by the time I started, we were in the full throws of the pandemic. I’ve been so grateful to have extremely supportive and welcoming colleagues who have showed me the ropes virtually (some of whom I’ve still never met in real life!) and everyone has done such a fantastic job of moving to online music-making provision.
Q. What do you do enjoy doing outside of GM?
Before I joined GM, I worked as a peripatetic music tutor in South Wales and a freelance cellist. My job with GM is part-time so I am still doing some teaching but the performing has sadly been extremely thin on the ground this year due to COVID. I have a few bookings in the diary coming up though so I am crossing everything that they’ll be able to go ahead! I also love to sing and can’t wait to get back singing with the BBC National Chorus of Wales which I’ve been a member of for 13 years.
Lockdown, however, has reignited my love for running. I’m not the world’s fastest runner by any means but I love getting out and finding new picturesque routes near my home in Monmouth and have joined a local running club this year. They’ve just been able to start again for the first time since December so it’s been great to run with other people again.
Q: So if you were stranded on a desert island, what two things would you want with you?
My cello and some way of listening to my Spotify library. Oh and lots of snacks!
Q: What were the last three things you bought?
Some running shorts, lots of goodies from our local zero-waste shop and a folding desk for our music room (I’ve been using a camping table to teach online for the past 14 months!)
Q. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be?
Oo that’s a good question. I love the cello but sometimes I wish I could play something a bit more portable like a guitar.
Q. What do you hope for your next year in the job?
Well I’m extremely excited to start some youth face-to-face rehearsals after half term and to get to actually meet our members in real life. However, I really hope that things will soon allow us to go back to our usual way of rehearsing and performing, I cannot wait for a proper concert to be allowed!