Meet our Astonishing Alto: Anja Pollard aka our Mistress of Lash #Vox_Tribe
Q: What is your day job?
A: I am a music therapist in private practice. My passion lies in helping people discover ways to improve and maintain their mental health. There is no better co-therapist than music to work with!
Go check out Anja's page here to find out more: Anja Pollard Creative Arts Therapist
Q: How many years have you been singing in a choir?
A: Since grade 1. I’ve had the privilege to sing in excellent choirs for almost 35 years.
Q: What has been your most memorable experience with Vox to date?
A: If there was a single moment in my Vox Chamber Choir career that I could mention, it would be when we sung Franco’s setting of Antjie Krog’s poem “Bly by My” as part of our "Vuurbees | Firebeast" concert in the basement of King Price Insurance’s building in Pretoria. Franco dedicated the work to me and a fellow Voxie, who both lost a parent around the same time. In that basement, I felt an indescribable sense of support in the process of grieving the loss of my father.
Listen to it here:
Q: What do you enjoy the most about being part of Vox?
A: I greatly admire the culture of our loving and accepting community and the fact that we can gently hold one another accountable for maintaining these values. As an artist, I love that I feel that I am part of a fine instrument, making a difference in the world and building a unique legacy.💥
Q: Which piece is your favourite that you have performed with Vox Chamber Choir?
A: Before I answer this question, I’ll briefly give a bit of context to my answer. As a singer, I experience myself as a Kenwood with marginally good sight singing capabilities - a good blending voice and hopefully an asset to neighbouring voices when learning new music. A while back, we’ve recorded a beautiful "Sanctus" (by Franco), where I’ve had the opportunity to play the luscious tenor saxophone solo alongside the choir. Stepping into a different role and having a different experience of my own voice in the choir, as well as hearing the Voxies from a new angle, was such a treat. The work is called: "Sanctus (Heilig, Heilig, Heilig) from Franco's "Missa Sacrum", listen to is here:
Q: What do you look forward to the most with Vox Chamber Choir?
A: Having the opportunity to share the deeply touching and meaningful "Kruis van Liefde" with a 1000-piece audience in celebration of Easter.😘
Q: In which Vox-Tet (our octets) are you?
A: I’m in the team with the ‘Beste Gees’! Team Sebastian in the Sky of Diamonds - team Blue!💙 I’ve never laughed as much as with this year’s choir camp-‘Vox Potjiekos’ Competition! #hou_by_dis_BLOU
Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
A: Clearing all pollution on Earth in an instant.🌳
Q: What are you reading/binge watching at the moment:
1. Reading - I have the habit of having at least 5 books on my bedside table. What I pick up to read depends on mood, intent and time available. These are the titles: Plunder by Antjie Krog, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, The Bible, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk;
2. Watching - I need lots of sleep and have two beautiful sons - so there’s no time for binge watching. I did recently discover the train wreck that is Japanese Anime with my teenager though - you know PG and so on…
Q: Name another hobby/interest you participate in?
A: I’ve taken up saxophone lessons after a 20-year break post formal music studies. This time I’m specifically working on jazz theory and technique. I also play in a sax quartet and recently started gigging again - it feels like I’ve regained a lost limb!🤩
Q: Name a section in "Kruis van Liefde" that gives you goosebumps every time:
A: The section in "XXV Paasbelydenis - Finale", where the text reads:
“U het weer opgestaan, ons vooruit gegaan. Juig oor U majesteit, ons wil U prys in ewigheid” is my favourite goosebump-moment.🎶
Get your tickets for 15 March, Kruis van Liefde, live at NG Universiteitsoord, Pretoria here. You do not want to miss this magical choral experience. Click here to get your tickets, today!
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
A: I would’ve loved to spend an extended period of time in the Seychelles, contributing to conservation and natural research. If I could be granted my superpower, it may not have to happen in the near future before the Island State disappears beyond rising ocean levels.❤️
And I’m craving pina coladas in a hammock on the beach.🍹⛱️🌴
📸 Photo Credit: The beyond amazing, Yolandi Jacobsz - Loci Photography
Conductor and Composer of the Vox Chamber Choir: Franco Prinsloo Composer/Conductor