Alex's AS media blog: December 2016

Ed’s Fight For Fame

How did an unpopular everyday teenager become a CLASSICAL LEGEND?!

Even Ed find it hard to explain…

I lost my father in my last year of primary school. My dad was everything to me, he would be the one took care of me while my mum went out and drank. My Mother suffered a very deep side of depression and would refuse to eat or speak to anyone but me. So I dropped out of school to assist her through the pain and suffering, causing me to lose touch with society; I ended up isolating myself with grief. I’d sit in my room for hours staring at my ceiling. I guess classical music brought me back to reality and into a better place. As mum improved, I was able to get back into school.

As a teenager, I found it hard to socialise and make friends, so I decided to pick up a violin instead of a pen. From this it kick started my love for classical music. Playing the violin helped me escape reality and come in contact with my inner passion. Instead of going to my lessons, I decided to skip them and learn more and more about the culture and atmosphere, which comes with playing the violin. Now when I look back, it was a really bad idea….

I was 18 and had no education. There was no way I would be able to support my mum through our hard lives. Crazily I decided to try and find a career within the world of classical music.

I went into town every day at noon to play my instrument to the world. This helped drastically with my confidence, I remember my first performance in public. I was a nervous wreck. I stood there frozen in fear, prepared but scared.

Little did I know this would be the start of my carer.

I thought in my head, “this is for you dad”

I started to play.

I quickly gained a large amount of attention; a jolt of confidence sprang through me. At this moment I knew, this was what I was destined for. While playing I looked forward and realised I had gathered a great crowd. There silently stood, transfixed, listening to me play. As I came to the end of my piece clapping began, it felt like I was dreaming. I’d never had anyone clap for me before.

After I ended my performance everyone left. But one man stood there. He came over to me “this was the best violin performance id ever heard performed on the street! You have great potential!” He then gave me a card and said “if you’re interested in performing to a much bigger crowd of around 20,000 plus people. Call that number” pointing at the card, then walked off.

Overwhelmed with excitement I completely forgot I didn’t even have a phone, my mum could never afford one. So I picked up my stuff as fast as I possible could and ran home. Dropping my things at the door, I sprinted into my room to try and find 50p to use the telephone box outside the church in my village. I reached the telephone box and rang he man immediately!

This was it, the start of my life, my carer, my future.

My first concert was in the Royal Albert Hall in London. It was huge! I’d never seen a place so big! I was so nervous I thought I was going to faint… As I sat waiting to go on, I looked out to the audience and heard a faint “Ed! Hey! Ed!” It was my mum sat on the front row shouting my name trying to get my attention. So I obviously gave her a wave. Seeing my mum calmed my nerves a lot. I was finally able to sit without shaking in. my name was called out “Edward Collins” I walked on, into a standing ovation. My heart lifted as applause raised the roof. Suddenly the room fell silent, as people waited for me to play.

As I played I could feel my body flow with the instrument. I’d never felt like this before, it was right weird… people actually knowing who I was, acknowledging I was an actual human being. They looking at me in awe, I couldn’t believe it! I finished my piece, the room remained silent, I looked down to my mum and saw her smiling, proud, happy and strong. For the first time since I was 10. With a sudden burst of applause the lights came back on and everyone stood chanting my name. “Ed, Ed, Ed”. Taking a bow a slight tear fell from my eye onto the stage.

In the next year, I had many performances but the best by far was the Italian tour in Verona. Where coincidentally, I met my girlfriend. I stood proud and thankful for everything that had happened to me. Performing a piece I had created, just felt unbelievable!

After I performed and was about to exit the building, I saw a beautiful woman stood laughing into her phone. As a performer get nervous with a lot of things, but walking up to this girl just felt different… it felt like I was about to perform in the town again. “Hey” That was all I managed to say but it was enough. She is now my fiancée.

I know, sounds like a story doesn’t it...

Trust me. It isn’t.

The beauty of romance is clearly on the cards do Ed. Maybe we can look forward to a wedding in the near future.