Sharing Fond Memories ...

Leading young Kiwi Soprano, Madeleine Pierard, now based in London, has just completed a tour 'down under' with the NZ Symphony Orchestra.

Madeleine, was 8 years old, when she attended her first Camp with Camp Quality Wellington/Central Districts back in 1988.  She now enjoys a full and active life and apart from her singing, lists boxing, Kung Fu and kickboxing as three of her favourite pursuits.  She also describes the Summer Camps she attended as "some of the most wonderful in my life. They were the ultimate spirit lifter."
 
Questions & Answers with Madeleine -

• How did you first become involved with Camp Quality NZ and at what age?

I was first involved with Camp Quality as a camper through the recommendation of the Wellington Hospital paediatric oncology unit (I think). I was eight years old when I first attended the camp.

• From your experience, what do you believe are the benefits of Camp Quality NZ? How do they make a difference to children living with cancer?

The benefits of Camp Quality were significant - Here I was, one of a group of children who had been through a similarly harrowing experience - some often worse - who were able to just be kids for a while and enjoy experiences that we would never have been given otherwise, such as hot air balloon riding.  It developed a sense of community for me - a sense of sharing experience and
therefore making the recovery easier.  I treasured my time at the camp and of course, the people, who are as special in my memory as they were then.  

• What type of cancer were you diagnosed with? And what is your state of health now?

I had B-Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.  I was diagnosed in 1988 and received intensive treatment, mostly in isolation, in Napier and Wellington over two years.  My health now is fantastic - I'm fit, strong as an ox and making the most of being alive, I suppose.  I am one of the lucky ones - I haven't had any appearance of cancer since I was out of remission.

• What do you recall as the most difficult or challenging aspect of being a child growing up with cancer?

Being away from my family was DEFINITELY the most challenging aspect. All the uncomfortable and often excruciating hospital treatments became routine after a while, even the really nasty ones, so they became easier to deal with.  But I know now that the duration of my treatment was far, far more difficult for my family and I missed them terribly.  Isolation was the most horrific time.  I was never allowed to see or hug my Mum unless she was wearing a mask and gown.  Some of my siblings had recurring colds so I didn't see them for months. 

• How old were you when you first went to camp and how many camps did you attend?

I think I first attended in 1990 - the final year of the Wellington area Camp Quality at El Rancho in Waikanae. So - whatever year that was .  I was eight, I think, and I attended camp until 1993, when I was 12 years old. 

• Were Mum and Dad ever concerned about you leaving home and attending camp at such a young age?

Not to my knowledge.  I suspect they were relieved that people who understood the implications and effects of cancer on children were taking the initiative and helping us through in such a wonderful way.  It would have been important to them for me to realise I wasn't a freak - there were other children suffering and sharing these experiences together always helps us come to terms with trauma more quickly.  They were very happy for me to go - though I admit I found it hard to leave them so soon after Christmas each year.  That feeling disappeared as soon as I arrived at Camp though, of course!

• Have you kept in contact with any other campers, companions or volunteers?

Since the arrival of Facebook, I have 'found' a couple of companions and campers but at that age, and before email and social networking made communications easier, I unfortunately didn't keep in touch, which is something I really regret.  I was never really much of a pen pal either! Terrible.

• What is your favourite memory of Camp Quality NZ?

Well, the people and the community spirit made us all feel incredibly special.  That was a huge thing.  But in terms of camp activities - oh that's a hard one - I have so many!  The helicopter rides were a definite highlight.  I found the hot air balloon a little scary and loud for my little ears... but it was still fabulously exciting. My favourite things were perhaps the great outdoor activities –
camp fires, making damper bread, riding in motorbike sidecars, the swimming pool... it was all amazing to be honest.  Chocolate making and meal times were a close second.  

• Have you got a message you would like to share with parents or caregivers of children living with cancer of the wonderful experience of a Camp Quality Summer Camp?

I can honestly say that in my experience, Camp Quality was the most effective catalyst when it came to recovering from the trauma of suffering from cancer, both for my family and me.  My parents, who definitely weren't in a position to provide those kind of unique and remarkable activities were utterly grateful for the help and in the knowledge that I was able to enjoy myself in such a wonderfully caring environment.  It was a godsend for them.  For myself, I felt like I was the luckiest kid alive - not something you expect from someone with cancer!  I still hold some of the experiences during my time at Camp Quality as some of the most wonderful in my life.  I loved my companions, I adored the camp spirit and of course, the fantastic activities. I can't believe how much we used to pack in to only five days!   Now, as an adult, I don't ever think back to my time with cancer as a traumatic one and I strongly believe that it is Camp Quality that had enabled me to change my outlook as a youngster, mainly by attaching the memory of such positive experiences to such hideous ones.  I am indebted to Camp Quality NZ for this.  It is the ultimate spirit-lifter.

• Finally Madeleine, a little bit about yourself - how old are you, where has your singing taken you, where are you currently based and for how long, and any plans of returning to New Zealand?

I am 29 now and for the past six years, I've been living in London studying and working as an opera singer. I am in the middle of a two-year contract as a Jette Parker Young Artist at The Royal Opera in Covent Garden, where I debuted in December last year.  It could be said to be the most coveted position to be in for a young opera singer. 

I hadn't always intended to sing. All my childhood, and most likely stemming from my experiences during my illness, I had decided to study medicine.  My family are all musicians - it was a normal part of our life, but it wasn't really what I wanted to do as a career.  I studied piano and went to university in Wellington studying both musical composition and biomedical science - keeping my options open!  Music won, and a few years later I started singing.  It happened rather late and surprisingly quickly, but I've always had a pretty good drive when it comes to work (I'm often in overdrive, actually...) and I grasped every opportunity that  came my way. 

Now, six years later, it's paid off amazingly well!  No time to rest on my laurels though, alas. This job is an extremely high-pressure one and even though I have the luxury of a stable job whilst at The Royal Opera, the reality is that most of the time, we're freelancing and the competition is unbelievable.   I also have to look after myself very well - nowadays, opera singers have to keep incredibly fit (I do a lot of boxing, Kung Fu and kickboxing... perhaps more than some singers, but that's another one of my passions).  More is expected of us on stage and off - limited funding means companies are scrambling for audiences - productions are more impressive and rehearsal periods shorter, so we have to be incredibly careful with our health.  If freelance singers get a sore throat and can't sing, we won't get paid that month! 

I'm also very homesick.  I don't know when I'll return to NZ to live.  It's difficult to maintain the quantity of singing work in a small country (though the standard is equally high, I think!) so it may not be for a while, but my heart is there, for sure.  Having said all of that, the work is incredibly rewarding.  Performing at this level is exhilarating - I'm working with world-famous singers every day, many of whom I've been listening to since I was tiny. I guess you could say I'm living the dream.  The job involves a lot of travel.  Singers are renowned for living permanently out of a suitcase and it can be lonely at times, but I've sung in The Royal Opera House, The Royal Festival Hall and in exciting locations such as The Forbidden City in Beijing, The Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican City, St Marks in Venice, both with choirs and as a soloist. 

Recently, I toured with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in their Odes To Joy tour.  This was an incredible experience - singing in New Zealand during the Rugby World Cup made me so proud to be a Kiwi.  Along with performing with an entirely Kiwi group of musicians who are all making waves overseas, the highlight was our concert in Christchurch at the CBS Canterbury Arena : we had an audience of 2000 people listening to the most uplifting music.  It was highly emotional for all of us.   That's what makes this such a wonderful job - bringing joy to people who may be suffering, or distracting them from the difficulties of their lives, even temporarily.  It is amazing when people come up to me after a performance and say how moving it was.  That's what it's all about, really.