By XAVIER SMERDON
AT JUST 18 years of age, Wyndham Vale’s Ben Peska not only knows exactly what he wants to do for the rest of his life, but he is well on the way to making it happen.
Last year Ben graduated from Bacchus Marsh Grammar and after years of practice and a gruelling test, he was accepted into Melbourne University’s exclusive Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
His cello playing skills were good enough to impress the two experts that he had to audition in front of and Ben was offered a platform from which to launch his career.
“I was pretty over the moon, especially because it was such a high stakes thing,” Ben said.
While most people his age would struggle to list a song made in the 1980s, Ben said he loves listening to and performing anything from the 1800s.
Ben’s parents originally did not want him to pursue a career in music due to its competitive nature, but they soon changed chords when they realised how determined he was.
“I went to a classical music concert at the beginning of last year and that really opened my eyes to what I could be doing,” he said.
“Since then I’ve been doing two to three hours of practice a day.”
Ben overcame his fear of public performance to nail his audition and he said he now wants to perform his favourite instrument in whatever capacity he can.
“I just want to perform professionally. As a soloist would be great,” he said.
“As long as I’m playing the cello I think I’ll be happy.”
