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Jonathan Connell

Location: Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL
NLAC Program Funded Under: Labrador Cultural Travel Fund
Amount Funded: $2,415
Dates: March 7, 2012

A prolific musician in his own right, Jonathan Connell has taught himself how to play percussion instruments, guitar, trumpet, mandolin, and violin already.  He’s been known to play any one of them at various community events and has always had a strong passion for music, art, and dance.

In addition to Jonathan’s personal dedication to learn on his own, he has also taken formal piano lessons in his hometown of Happy Valley-Goose Bay up until 2009 – when his instructor said she had nothing more to teach him, as he had reached her skill level.  Some short years later, he decided that the Memorial University School of Music was where he wanted to go following high school to focus on piano.

To keep his skills sharp, Jonathan enrolled in e-music lessons throughout the fall and winter. He also worked with David Chafe, who was in Goose Bay taking part in Festival 500 in February of this year. The two had been introduced by Jonathan’s piano teacher. The organizer of Festival 500 in Happy Valley-Goose Bay contacted Jonathan a short time later to pass on that David had been impressed and wanted to continue working with him to help him find the formal polishing needed for a School of Music audition.

With the help of the Labrador Cultural Travel Fund, Jonathan travelled to St John’s two days before his audition on March 10, where David spent hours rehearsing with him and also accompanied him to his audition.  Jonathan has sucessfully completed the vetting process and has been accepted into Memorial University’s School of Music, starting in September 2012.

Q & A with Jonathan Connell...

NLAC: What was the first instrument you wanted to learn how to play and why?

Jonathan: The first instrument I learned how to play was piano. Mom enrolled me in Music for Young Children when I was four. Then as I got older (around 10) I really wanted to learn how to play guitar, and I begged my mom to find someone to teach me. She found a great guy, Paul Bradley, who was still in high school and I became his first student. Within a few months, I was playing with him at times in a local band and after completing a summer camp the same year, he told mom that I was as good as he was. Paul and I continue to share a special relationship musically, though he’s been living in a different area of the Province for several years.

NLAC: Why do you think you are so drawn to music?

Jonathan: A common joke in our family is that, “We don’t know where Jonathan gets his musical talents as no one else can play a tune or hold a note.” I was always drawn to music, all kinds of it, the diversity of music appeals to me probably more than anything else. I feel that I can express myself far more through music than I can with actions or words. It’s become a way of life for me and I can’t imagine a single day where I am not playing, writing or singing music.

NLAC: What are some of your memorable performances?

Jonathan: Last year I started a local band and we opened the Sherman Downey Show at the Lawrence O’Brien Arts Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. We performed a second set after the intermission for the same concert. That was certainly a highlight. Another memorable performance was my audition to gain entry into the Memorial University School of Music. This was the first time that I played piano in front of a group of professional musicians and I knew there was no fooling them. I had prepared intensely for it, but it was still a bit nerve-wrecking, though also self-rewarding. It really helped having someone like David Chafe accompany me to my audition even though he wasn’t in the room at the time.

NLAC: What about additional types of art that you enjoy, do you practice them as well?

Jonathan: Yes, all the time. I’m travelling to the Provincial Drama festival this spring after our group (Ike Riche Players) won the Labrador Regional Drama Competition. Our Director, Ms. Kennedy, won “Best Director” while two of my peers received honourable mentions for supporting actor roles, and our lighting technician received an award. I was fortunate to have a lead role and received Best Male Actor. We are hoping to do well at Provincials and we’ve been practicing several times a week since Easter.

I also have an acting role as a prince in a dance recital for younger dancers this spring and I play percussion for older modern dance groups; I also actively participate in the dance pairs program. There will be two dance recitals this spring in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and we are busy preparing for these events.

NLAC: What instrument have you found to be the most challenging? Which instrument do you enjoy playing most?

Jonathan: The violin has perhaps been the most challenging instrument for me to learn. I learned how to play violin, and some other instruments, using the internet and I think it would have been easier to learn to play violin with a teacher. I enjoy playing guitar most of all. It’s relatively easy to learn new songs and playing guitar is very sociable. I also enjoy playing and writing new songs; piano is almost equally enjoyable..

NLAC: What was the moment of auditioning like? How did you feel when you got the results?

Jonathan: The actual audition was a bit overwhelming! I was conscious of the fact that the professionals observing me were extremely knowledgeable. The actual hall itself in which I performed was the best I’d ever played in, and I was aware that it was the real thing. I was ecstatic and relieved when I heard that I’d been accepted into Memorial University’s School of Music. Pursuing a music degree has been a goal for several years, and getting accepted was like a dream come true. I immediately called mom and then, David Chafe, who was a strong mentor and support in the weeks leading up to my audition. I believe he was just as thrilled as I was at the time, even though he had confidence that I could do it.

NLAC: How important is the LCTF to you?  

Jonathan: The LCTF is extremely valuable. It enabled me to go to St. John’s early and practice intensely with Mr. Chafe for a couple of days prior to my audition. The intense work that Mr. Chafe and I did together leading up to my audition made me feel confident and fully prepared at the time of my audition. There was a lot happening this year and not having to worry about financing my travel to prepare and audition for the MUN School of Music relieved a lot of stress for me and my family. It would have certainly been a lot harder for me without the LCTF, and I probably wouldn’t have been able to do the intense lead up work without it.

NLAC: What do you hope to do in the future, both as a music student and upon graduation?

Jonathan: I hope to continue to perform both as a music student and after I graduate. I would also like to teach music in the future, and reach out to students in rural, northern areas of our province where many students like me struggle to access professional music teachers. I would like to complete music and education so I am well equipped to do that, and also still perform on a community level.