The Penrhosian No. 73 Feature
Classical composer from her early years
Every so often, a student demonstrates an extraordinary passion for music in her early years. When Ellie Malonzo was given a pink ukulele as a child, she tucked it under her chin, grabbed a chopstick and played it like a violin — it was clear to her parents that they needed to enrol her into Penrhos’ music program right away!
Ellie quickly demonstrated her talent for the violin, which enhanced her love for music so much that she began composing her own music — aged just five years old.
“One night I was lying in bed and I heard a melody in my head, so I wrote it down. It (composing) went from there. I see it as a puzzle — hundreds of ideas not fitting together and then suddenly you realise how it all fits,” says Ellie.
Ellie’s parents knew her love of music composition was worth exploring further and, in 2016, she was given the opportunity to expand her skill-set under the guidance and mentorship of Penrhos College alum and professional musician, Holly Broadbent (2015).
“I was approached by Ellie’s mother to teach Ellie when she was aged just six years old. I was apprehensive about whether someone so young would be able to take on composition, but Ellie was full of ideas from the outset and brought the entire solo line of her first violin concerto to me on her first lesson,” explains Holly. Working with her mentor, Ellie went on to complete the whole first movement of her first violin concerto, a piece that she also performed at the 2018 Junior School Interhouse Music Eisteddfod.
Ellie continued to progress quickly as a violinist and stretched herself by learning to play the oboe as her second instrument in the Year 4 Band Program.
Her love for composing and playing music on both the violin and the oboe was certainly impressive.
Since then, Ellie has continued working with Holly to complete four more movements of her violin concerto and has started work on her fifth composition.
“Ellie immediately expressed an interest in composing music in baroque and classical styles. I think it’s important to help her flourish in the styles that she loves most,” says Holly. Ellie was delighted to be invited to attend The WA Young Artists Chamber Music Program (WAYACHAMP) and the Compose! Program in 2019. The WAYACHAMP program offers string and piano students aged 10–17 opportunities to collaborate with other like-minded students and professionals in a celebration of chamber music.
Ellie is also the youngest violinist in the prestigious WA Youth Orchestra Philharmonic, Western Australia’s Youth Orchestra’s second most senior ensemble, where she holds her own with students more than 10 years her senior. In 2020, Ellie was invited to play and tour through Germany with the Helsinki Youth Orchestra but, due to the global pandemic, she was unable to travel for this exciting opportunity.
“Music is a universal language. I believe it is a rare gift to be able to convey your feelings through art and be sure that everyone will understand,” said Ellie.
Eager to explore her musical talents further, Ellie has recently started tuition on the organ with her mentor Holly. “It is really easy to learn more than one instrument, when music is what you live for,” gushed Ellie.
