The life of a musician… Thomas Dethlefs

How does making music make you feel?
I think music helps you to use your imagination… like guided day dreaming? It can express many things and equally help you feel the things inside you that resonate with what is being played.

Why do you think humanity creates music?
Music is not bound by words, even music with words. The music can add meaning and context to the words, but I think a composer is not bound by words alone to express what feelings are inside, and what beauty, pain, passion, excitement, anger, etc. they see or find outside themselves. I think as human beings we have a need to express ourselves, and to share experience. I think there is also an element of escapism when listening to or playing music. It helps us forget about the ordinary and go to another place.

What do you see as the role of artists and creatives in our society?
I think the work that artists and creative people do helps us to think differently, to look at things in a different way, and to experience things differently. I hope that artists will continue to challenge and provoke us in these ways. I remember the conductor and educator Richard Gill saying to a group of kids at a schools concert something like “I don’t care if you don’t like a piece of music… what I care about is that you have an opinion”. Art requires the audience to participate with their brains. It is the reaction is good. Sometimes it take something shocking to force us to think.

And how about the role of the artist in the Christian community?
I think God gives you gifts, so use them. I don’t think everyone will be able to use all of their gifts and talents in church… that would be funny. You wouldn’t expect a surgeon to do surgery in church, even if it is amazing. I think it is amazing to have so many different kinds of people coming together under God’s teaching to praise and glorify him, and learn and grow in relationship with him and his people. And then to see all of them go out to their different jobs, families, friends and live changed lives that glorify God and point to Jesus.

I am a violinist, but at my church in Sydney I play the drums in the band… playing the drums certainly isn’t my vocation, but it is something I can do to serve people at church and it was something that was wanted and maybe needed. However I find it much more important to care for people, by listening to them, welcoming and befriending them, seeing them outside church things etc. I just want people not to neglect what needs to be done in church, and that isn’t always the thing you are the best at, maybe just competent at… or you are becoming competent at with God’s help.

How does the gospel inform your vocation as an musician?
I love playing music and if I get to do that as a job that is fantastic! I have to consider if that is the best way I can serve God. For now I think it is through music. I think that God puts you in certain places to witness about Jesus in that place. That will probably mean in most settings that colleagues and friends have to see that your life is different, that you care for people, or maybe other things that help them to trust you, before you get to tell them that Jesus loves them and they need saving, and that he is offering that because he died on the cross for them. This is all important work.

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Thomas is a husband to Lizzie and is currently pursuing opportunities with his violin in Berlin, Germany