Applauding the Cecilias

by Joyce Axelrod
I barely slept that night

While enjoying a classical concert some months ago an idea "seized"me. The performers were members a quartet of beautiful young, gifted women who also happened to be personal friends of ours. I had just finished a documentary about a troupe of eleven belly dancers who were enchanted by the dance, music and costumes. Now, why I shouldn't do a documentary about a female quartet, delving into their private thoughts about being musicians, especially female musicians, and how they strive to survive in the competitive world of music performance.

The Cecilias are (l to r): Rebecca Wenham, cello Min-Jeong Koh, violin Caitlin Boyle, viola Sarah Nematallah, violin

After the recital, I went backstage and asked them if they'd be the subject of my next documentary. The answer was "yes". I barely slept that night thinking about all the ways I would approach a storyline. Probably the best idea I had was to invite my friends to share with me their curiosity about the 4 women. These were typical questions :

When did your group form? Tell particulars How did you select the Name, CSQ (Cecilia String Quartet)? What were other choices? At what age did you start playing an instrument? Your instrument? Who gave you the most confidence to be a musician. How long do you typically practice alone each day? With the group? What do you do to put yourself "in the moment" of playing? Tell about how you prepare,as a group for a concert What is the most pleasurable thing about being a musician? What are the down sides?

Why do you live in separate residences ? How do you adjust to each other's personalities and moods? Other than your music, what do you enjoy doing together? What is the best decision professionally that you've made, as a group How do you make group decisions? Your process. Are you nervous before a concert? How do you deal with it? What does the quartet do in order to grow? How do you judge a performance you have just completed? As you are getting dressed for a concert in the "green room" what are your typical thoughts? Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

I used those questions as the basis of my project.

Interviews

I scheduled each of the Cecilia's to be interviewed in my office at different times. They were each aware of these general questions. Because of our established friendship, I felt a trusting rapport was already established.

Over the three month period of filming, I was able take footage of them in the "greenroom" getting dressed for concerts, at several concerts as a quartet and also concertizing on occasion ,as solo musician, daily practice sessions and playing for young audiences. In addition, I took my camcorder when we took them to the airport for a flight to France for an assignment.

Perhaps the most enlightening time was when we had a leisurely dinner at our home, just the quartet with my husband and myself. They really opened up and we were able to see them as vulnerable, beautiful, talented young women-and a peek in to their relationship with each other.

I made several versions of this documentary. One, for San Diego State University School of Music and Dance, so that they might use it for recruitment.Another version will be used as a link for the Cecilia String Quartet's website. The other version has been used for competitions, like the one I submitted for the North American Movie Makers competition.

I am thrilled to be recognized for NAMMA - North American Movie Makers Awards The Ten Best 2009. The pleasure was in the making of this documentary, but being acknowledged is absolutely special.

Stop press: We have just learned that Cecilia String Quartet was awarded First Prize in the 2010 Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) at The Banff Centre.

- Joyce Axelrod

P.S. The quartet take their name from St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music.
Visit their website: www.ceciliastringquartet.com where there are some generous extracts from their recordings.