I am practising a piece at the moment for the next concerts I’m performing. It’s called ‘Inner World’, by an Australian composer called Carl Vine, and was written for my former teacher, dear friend and Aussie cello legend David Pereira. It’s quite incredible. I’ve played it a few times before, but not for a while. It’s very hard, and there’s no wriggle room anywhere, because you are playing with a backing track. The backing track is made up entirely of sounds made from David playing, and altered (sometimes), or just used as it by Carl. I can’t imagine the painstaking process those two went through to do this… As I practise, I’m listening to the track, studying it – both with music and aurally to perfect how to fit with it. How to play imaginatively. And I am loving it. Sometimes I am nervous. Sometimes I feel like I’m flying. Sometimes I feel like laughing.

I love this piece for so many reasons. It’s amazing, just as a piece. It’s exhilarating to play. It’s fun to listen to. And I am proud to say I am a little part of this piece’s history.

In my second year of study with David, he asked me to drive to Sydney (we were in Canberra) to pick up music and a tape from Carl Vine. I left at around 5pm. I got to Carl’s at around 9pm (it was in 1994 – had to drive through Goulburn!). I was a bit awestruck, but tried to play it cool. (Probably didn’t. I mean, this was CARL VINE and I was a second year music college student!) Carl gave me a coffee, and an envelope. I drove back to Canberra and met David outside the School of Music at around 1.30am. He took the envelope and went to practise.

At 7pm the NEXT DAY he performed it. This piece is fiendish. SO hard. Practising it has made my fingers bleed. Literally. And David walked onto the stage at Tilley’s Cafe, in Lynham, and played this piece. And the place erupted. (I was there, and also so delighted because Carl Vine said hello to me as he came in. Tried to play it cool again. Probably also failed again.) And David played this piece again, as an encore, at the end of the concert. And a bunch of us students jumped up on tables at the cafe and danced.

And so I am practising this piece, remembering these two days. And also remembering how incredible David was. How hard he must have worked in that tiny, tiny timeframe. How he must have had nerves of steel that night. And also, how important he is (still!) to the Australian cello scene. SO many pieces written for him by composers – some of which are now dead. He’s the link to them.

David, you are incredible. Not just as a teacher, but also as a performer. And as a muse. And as someone who is still playing, and composing, and creating, and teaching, and encouraging other musicians. Thank you for all you’ve done.

It is an honour to call you my friend.