Rosewood lad named president

A DREAM has come true for Jarrod Schindler of Rosewood after being elected president of Brisbane's most prestigious music ensemble, the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO).

At just 25 years of age, Jarrod was ecstatic about the news when it was announced at the organisation's AGM.

He is the Principal Flute with the BPO and will perform in a concert, Classics at the Conservatory at Blackbutt on Saturday.

“The main thing at the concert is variety and we will play a bit of Bach and also a piece by Australian composer, Elena Kats-Chernin,” he said.

“We will also do more pop arrangements like The Beatles.”

Since its creation in 2000, the BPO has become the community orchestra of choice for more than 500 musicians.

“Becoming responsible for the success of future musicians could not be more rewarding."

“I'm making music almost every minute of the day and nothing could challenge my musicianship more, technically or emotionally,” he said.

Jarrod added it has been great stepping up to the new role.

“I've been with the orchestra for about four years and it's been good contributing - I think it is a positive step up as president,” he said.

As part of his duties, he will now be looking over the entire operations and keeping an eye on the BPO's direction.

Jarrod started music when he was about six-years-old.

“My neighbours had a simple flute called a fife, and I got it because they couldn't play it."

" I had a go at it and could play it and then my mum went and bought my brother and I one,” he said.

“I practised because I wanted to be better than my brother and I just went from there.”

Jarrod also taught himself double bass after a jazz ensemble he was part of at Ipswich Grammar School was lacking that particular instrument.

He said what keeps him going in his music is the ability to communicate with people in a different way.

“There is something special when everyone is playing together in harmony.”

“It is like a highly-oiled machine that gives you a buzz, and seeing younger people being able to express themselves is wonderful.

He said music is “a valued intelligence area” and there is a huge number of people who get back into it later in life.

“We have about 75 people in our orchestra and it is growing bigger. "We get many doctors and lawyers that come back to music because they are passionate about it and want to do it for a living,” he said.

Jarrod has quite an extensive resume starting with a Bachelor of Music (Performance) with First Class Honours and a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Queensland.

He has held the position of Principal Piccolo with the Queensland Youth Symphony and toured with the orchestra to Germany, Italy and France in 2008.