Waikato University musician heading to Norway

Waikato University student Sebastian Lowe is packing his viola and travelling over 6000km to Norway, just to find the perfect teacher.

In August Lowe heads to the Grieg Academy in Bergen for a year to complete an international graduate diploma in viola studies under the tutelage of internationally recognised musicians - something he is thrilled to have the opportunity to do.

“In music generally speaking you go for the teacher and my idea is to go there and cash in on what I’ve learnt here at Waikato. The idea is to take a year and breathe and really explore myself as a player and a person,” says Lowe.

“I've played violin since I was nine and five-years ago I switched to viola. The teachers and staff at the academy here have been great and there is a real sense of a musical community in Hamilton, but if you want to pursue music you have to spend some time in the Northern Hemisphere.”

The Bachelor of Music with Honours student isn’t finding the trip daunting at all and although he doesn't speak Norwegian yet,he's excited by the journey ahead of him.

“I want to get over there and experience something fresh. It’s not just music but being young and wanting to travel as well – the opportunity to go is too great to miss.”

Lowe already has a Bachelor of Arts in German and Anthropology and a Bachelor of Music in viola performance.

During his time at the University of Waikato he has been a regular in performances by Bachelor of Music students under tutelage of Dr Lara Hall.

“The graduate diploma in Norway is sort of like a mid-step honours year, then hopefully I can continue on to Masters and my goal of a career as an orchestra musician.”

Any help he can get to fund the adventure north is appreciated and currently Lowe is in the running for a $10,000 AMP Do your thing! Scholarship where the public can vote for their favourite scholar.