Meet the Musician | Sonia Croucher

What initially inspired you to play the piccolo?
My piccolo journey began unexpectedly in school band with a quirky duo concerto pairing the tiniest instrument with a tuba - a contrast that instantly captivated me. Years later, as a professional with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, I found myself reliving that magical combination, forming a piccolo-tuba duo for an Alzheimer's home concert. Since that fun start, I've always been drawn to the piccolo's unique voice in the orchestra - its ability to soar above the ensemble and add sparkle and lots of character to the music.

Do you remember the first orchestral work you heard (live or recording)?
Growing up in rural Queensland, my first taste of a professional orchestra came when the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) visited our small town as part of their annual “Train Tour”. It was eye-opening to see and hear a full orchestra in person. But the moment that truly captured my imagination was when I travelled to Brisbane to hear the legendary flautist James Galway perform with the QSO. Watching Galway's masterful performance with the orchestra was a pivotal moment for me.

Do you have any standout concerts or performances in your time with WASO?
My history with WASO actually began back in 2009 when I was flown in from Malaysia at very short notice to play piccolo in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.6 for a live ABC radio broadcast directed by Simone Young. That experience was definitely 'standout'! Since officially joining WASO as Principal Piccolo, the memories have been piling up fast. Our variety is incredible - from our Outer Space concert where my horn colleague donned an inflatable pig suit to the whole audience singing 'Let It Go' during Frozen. It's impossible to choose just one standout - each performance brings its own magic.

What is your favourite style of music to play? 
Each style offers something unique, but I particularly enjoy pieces that allow the piccolo to shine. If I had to choose a favourite orchestral composer, it would undoubtedly be Shostakovich. His writing for piccolo is always brilliantly challenging and rewarding. For flute solo repertoire, Bach holds a special place in my heart. But great music isn't limited to the classical world - give me some Earth, Wind & Fire any day, and I'm just as happy!

If you could invite three people from any period in history to dinner, who would you choose and why?
Rather than for dinner, I'd actually host them for a Sunday morning BBQ around my Weber - expertly cooked by my amazing Viking partner Henrik, who has embraced this iconic Aussie skill with his Scandinavian engineering brain! My guests would be; Mozart - not just for his prolific musical genius, but also for his famously cheeky character and crazy laugh; Theobald Boehm - specifically at the age when he was just starting to tinker with improving the flute design; and Jacob Collier - a modern-day musical genius with such a warm, engaging personality.