Baker Smith first met Kirrily in a book club. Then in London some time later before Kirrliy’s playing took her half the way round the world. As far as we know, Kirrily was the first female to gain a Masters degree in trumpet from the VCA in Melbourne.
When did you begin trumpet?
I began cornet when I was eight and trumpet when I was about 12.
Where has it taken you?
It has taken me to Palestine to perform for children in refugee camps. And it has taken me to Germany for a baroque concert in a castle and to nightclubs in Glasgow playing pop gigs.
Did you play with any circus groups in Europe?
I played the pink panther tune to accompany a clown act and gypsy music to accompany acrobats.
You teach music in Perth now. How do you find that?
Teaching is great because you get to witness and share a student’s pleasure in sound and listen to them develop an understanding of how beautiful it is to play melodies.
What is a good age to start?
I think eight is good.
Any tips for passionate young musicians?
Play as if you are singing through your instrument. Breath deeply at the start of melodic phrases.
How many hours practice is needed to get good?
When I first started cornet I only played 15 minutes a day but when I was doing my Masters I was practicing between three or four hours a day as well as rehearsing in ensembles for a few hours.
What have been the challenging pieces to learn?
Too many! ‘Five o’clock in the afternoon’ by Paul Sarcich – a piece for multiple percussion, piano and solo trumpet, it’s about a bull fight.
What are you playing at the moment?
In class today I played ‘Caravan’ and ‘I dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables.
bakersmith 