Page 54 - Alison Balsom Quiet City FULL BOOK

concept that takes over one’s language when words have run out;
when we don’t have any other way of expressing ourselves. Music is

almost the next highest step onwards. And I think this is what this

piece means to me, more than any other. Music is as good a way as
any to explain the universe, and I think this piece is a brilliant

encapsulation of that.

Photo: Hugh Carswell.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not playing trumpet?

I’ve been spending a lot of time doing up my house at the moment. I

also have two kids, so that also takes up a lot of time. That’s probably

the biggest challenge to my career, more than anything else! Busy
times. But I also feel greatly privileged that I’m busy with positive

things and trying to help extended family with issues that have come

up in the pandemic or helping the wider community in whatever way I

can. These things mean that you have no spare time but in a kind of a
good way.