I have come to the end of Year 6, and the end of a year of cello lessons, those being thanks to the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation.  2025 saw me playing for school events and in music festivals and competitions.  I started to learn vibrato and really get comfortable sight reading in my orchestra.  Towards the end of the year, I moved up to the next orchestra level at my school and the music is more challenging, and more exciting, and I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into it.  

We also went on music camp which was the absolute best time.  It involves students from Grade 5 through to Grade 12 so it’s really big and you just play and play and play, as well as having lots of fun in between. We normally practise in our school uniforms but at camp,  I got to wear my AAAF shirt, which started some conversations which is always good when more people understand what’s going on with my hair.  It was especially good as next year, I am moving to the high school campus, so this music camp meant that students from that campus started to get to know a little about me and alopecia (I stand out a bit so lots of people seem to know who I am).  It feels like I’ve got a bit of back up now when I head over to high school as there is this whole music group who can make the transition easier.  Definitely eases the nerves a bit.

These cello lessons and orchestra participation has also opened me up to the whole big world of music and instruments and I enjoy it so much I’ve decided to spread my wings and start learning percussion as well.  So watch out for me next year as I join a percussion ensemble and concert band too!

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Alex was a part of our sponsorship program – you can also participate! Go here to learn more https://aaaf.org.au/sponsorship-program