English and American Literature and Journalism Students Interview Dame Evelyn Glennie

The world’s premier solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie told students that she was ‘out of her comfort zone’ playing alongside pioneering Scottish ensemble Trio HLK during the Canterbury Festival earlier this month.

Dame Evelyn, took time out with the students after the sell-out performance in the Colyer-Fergusson Hall on the second of November,  where the musicians played deconstructed jazz standards, creating intriguing music with complex rhythms and textures.

The students from the School of Journalism and the School of English found themselves in awe of Dame Evelyn, who has been deaf since she was 12, as she listened to sound through her body, rather than her ears.

“The shape of objects is inspiring, their texture, their size. They make me want to know their sounds. For example your glasses aren’t round, but they almost are. They inspire me.” -Evelyn Glennie

Dame Evelyn praised the acoustics in the hall which made the explosive, interactive performance all the better for the rookie reporters who were experiencing a new genre of music.

Trio HLK and Dame Evelyn’s sound-creation brought rave reviews from the students who have filed their features for coursework assessment – and the pages of the student magazine Inquire.

The Canterbury Festival is one of the most important cultural events in the South East, bringing a rich mixture of performing arts from around the world.