Renu Mathew and Patricia Connick held their first concert as the Pretty Good Cellos in Airdrie, but neither actually lives here.
Mathew is a teacher from Olds, and Connick is a doctor in Calgary, where the two met in a music class. They decided to form a duo, with Airdrie becoming the halfway point for practices.
“We chose the library in Airdrie as a place to meet. They let us use the room for free, so, in return, we put on a concert,” explains Mathew.
The two share a look and laugh as Connick adds: “We probably didn’t sound that good at the time — but it was our first concert.”
Before they met in 2021, they had both begun cello lessons.
Mathew admits that they’re both “a bit nerdy” as adult musicians, practising a repertoire of popular and classical pieces as often as they can. It was she who suggested they form a duo.
“It’s a really great way to improve, because you have to be good to play publicly,” she says.
Connick acknowledges that musical mistakes will happen, “but, if you don’t make a face, the audience will never know. It’s all good, as long as you can laugh at yourself –”
“Or at each other,” Mathew interrupts, as they both laugh. Connick continues. “It’s not that we’re great cello players,” she says. “We’re getting better every time we play, but …”
“That’s why we call ourselves the Pretty Good Cellos, not the Pretty Good Cellists,” Mathew jumps in. “Our cellos are carbon-fibre, and we consider them to be pretty good, and they’re pretty good for the Alberta weather.”
The playful banter between the two speaks to the ease of their friendship and to their passion as musicians.
The two continue taking lessons and practising here in Airdrie, always with the goal of holding a concert and eventually becoming as “good as their cellos.”
Pretty Good Cellos can be seen regularly at the Airdrie Public Library and are special performers at the Amazing Airdrie Women Awards April 25 at the Bert Church LIVE Theatre.
