Harmony Project Grad To Study Music at U Vic – September 2023 – by Sheila Whincup

As fall approaches, Nolan Branch, not unlike many recent graduates from EMCS, is feeling excited about the next phase of his life. Nolan, who played cello in Harmony Project Sooke from the time he was in grade seven, is now about to enter freshman year at the University of Victoria majoring in Music and Computer Science.

“I always loved music. It probably started with hearing the rock and folk recordings my dad played around the house”, said Nolan. “When I was in grade three I heard there would be a talent contest in grade five, and decided I’d like to enter that and perform “Let It Go” from the film “Frozen”. “Well, you’d better take guitar lessons, then,” his dad said.

After starting guitar lessons, he discovered that the cello also sounded awesome. He remembers being wowed by the playing of “2Cellos”, a classically trained Croatian duo.
In grade six he joined the band program at Journey Middle School, but it didn’t have a strings section.

Fortunately, he came in contact with volunteer tutor Brent Straughan, a violinist with the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra. Brent tutored Nolan in strings for a year and then connected him with the then newly-formed Harmony Project Sooke, a non-profit society that offered a Strings Program.

So, Nolan started playing cello with Harmony Project. “We had sectionals as well as orchestra, so I learned how to read music. Some people just learn how to play chords on the guitar, but I began learning music theory, things like intervals and rhythm. It was a really good experience to play with the orchestra, to hear each other and try to stay in tune with everyone,” said Nolan.
“At first I was the newbie in the orchestra and felt nervous about playing with the more experienced students, but it’s been neat to gradually become the senior cellist in the HPS orchestra.”

In high school, Nolan began recording himself playing various instruments and then putting it all together on computer. His teacher in HPS, Maria Wang, who has a Masters degree in Cello Performance from U Vic, noticed his interests and recommended he check out the Music and Computer Science program at U Vic.

Next week Nolan will move into his dorm at UVic and begin classes. These will include calculus, computer science, music theory, music and computer, software engineering, music business, and Spanish, the elective he has chosen for this year.

Down the road, career possibilities include sound engineering, developing software for recording, and audio design. “There’s a technical side and also a creative side. I’ll be able to bring my feel for melodies, harmonies, and phrasing to the work.”

“Music has been such a big part of my life. Whenever I came home I’d always pick up my guitar or cello.” Asked about advice for younger students, Nolan recommends that they spend a lot of time practicing, but also try improvising and composing their own songs.

“Go on YouTube and play along with songs, break it up a bit. It’s rewarding to learn something and when you can actually play it, it’s a real confidence boost, a feeling of achievement! It’s also a mental health help; you can turn to playing music instead of just watching it or playing video games.”

“I was lucky that Harmony Project was here in Sooke; I couldn’t go to Langford or Victoria for lessons, so probably wouldn’t have been able to pursue cello. It was awesome that the Project always included free instruments, but this summer I just bought my own cello!”

Harmony Project Sooke is a registered non-profit society that provides musical instruments and instruction to children in Sooke region. Classes in Strings and Drumline programs take place outside of school hours, and will recommence in mid-September. For more info and to register, please visit www.harmonyprojectsooke.ca or email Executive Director, Lorna Bjorklund sookeharmonyproject@shaw.ca