By Elissa Blake
After more than three decades with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, concertmaster Dene Olding, 59, is stepping down to focus on family life, other musical pursuits, and, surprisingly, the Japanese martial art Aikido.
"I will try to get back to the Dojo," Olding says. "I attained a high ranking a few years ago but it has been difficult to find the time to train recently.
"I will try to get back to the Dojo": Dene Olding.Credit: Fiona Morris
"I've been one of the busiest musicians in Australia for the last 30 or 40 years, and hopefully that will continue as much as I would like it to. But it's also important I have time for myself and for my family."
Olding, a violinist, has been associated with the SSO for almost 36 years, first as a soloist and, since 1987, as concertmaster. He has performed more than 40 concertos, including many premieres, and worked with leading conductors and soloists from around the world.
The decision to step down came when Olding realised he had achieved everything he set out to do.
"The orchestra has gone through tremendous change from the time when the ABC controlled all the Australian orchestras, to becoming an independent arts organisation standing on its own two feet," he says.
"I am proud that I have helped with that difficult transition and with the growth of the artistic standard of the orchestra over three decades. The orchestra is in fantastic shape at the moment and to have played a part in that musical growth is my main achievement."
Olding says the challenges – which range from the musical to the financial – are huge for orchestral musicians.
"But it is a tremendously rewarding life, there is never a dull moment because we have the privilege of dealing with the genius of the great composers every day. We get glimpses of meaning and beauty that other people spend their whole lives trying to find."
Olding recalls the time a friend brought a high-ranking Buddhist monk to a concert. "He said to me afterwards that I will never have to meditate because what we do is similar to meditation, we attain a kind of spirituality through music."
Olding says he is not retiring. He will continue to perform with the Australia Ensemble, which is resident at the University of New South Wales, and the Goldner String Quartet, of which he is a founding member, as well as other freelance appearances.
Chief conductor David Robertson, who is also the SSO's artistic director, said Olding would be missed by his colleagues, not only as a musician, but also as a generous leader and friend.
"Dene is a world-class musician of the highest calibre and his talent, gracious poise, deep knowledge, and gentle sense of good humour has helped make the SSO the ensemble that it is today," Robertson says.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will honour Olding's contribution by naming him Concertmaster Emeritus after his final performance with the orchestra, Beethoven's Symphony No.9, on October 29.
"It is bound to be an emotional night," Olding says. "I chose this concert to be my final performance because I think the majesty of this great symphony is unparalleled and the message it contains is one for all humankind.
"I will take away countless memories of great performances and happy times with my colleagues but I am now ready for the next exciting chapter of my life."
Dene Olding appears with the Goldner String Quartet and the SSO in Mad About Mozart at the City Recital Hall on October 6.