First-year government lawyer Rory Brown is orchestrating a successful career in both the profession and music world.
A former Supreme Court Judge’s Associate, he plays the bassoon for the Queensland Law Orchestra (Lawchestra) and Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO).
Recently Rory performed a movement from Weber’s Bassoon Concerto in F Major at the Lawchestra’s seventh annual concert, which was considered a highlight of the evening.
With fortnightly rehearsals, Lawchestra provides an opportunity for members of the profession to switch off from legal work and connect with others in their shared passion and love of music.
Rory said it was important to him to find the time to juggle music and the law.
“It’s a struggle! But playing music for me is indispensable for my mental health, so any costs involved in sacrificing a few nights a week to rehearsals or performances are easily recouped in the benefits,” he said.
“I think as well that taking the time to set goals in your personal life (of any kind), pursue them and ultimately achieve them is critical to providing a sense of meaning, purpose and self-worth.
“I have wanted to perform a movement from a concerto for a long time and the achievement of that goal this year was an absolute highlight of the year.”
Rory acquired a love of music from an early age.
“I started playing piano at five years old. However, my school had a program in year five requiring every student to learn an ensemble instrument,” he recalled.
“Every student in my year handed in their instrument preference form, except for one – me. As a result, I was put on bassoon, the instrument nobody else selected. And that proved serendipitous!
“I love my instrument – I consider the bassoon to be the unsung hero of the orchestra. Incredible range, beautiful tone, usually content to round out harmonies and provide depth, but capable of hauntingly beautiful solo work (think the opening of the Rite of Spring) or virtuosic rapidity (think the opening of the Marriage of Figaro).”
Rory joined the Lawchestra, which donates to the Minds Count Foundation, which aims to improve workplace psychological health and safety in the legal community, in 2021.
And in another serendipitous moment, auditioned and joined the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra in 2022.
“When I was in university, a friend send me a notice from the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra that they were holding auditions for bassoon,” he said.
“I was on holiday at the time, and had four days to practice for the audition when I got back. I practised frantically upon my return and was lucky enough to be selected.
“BPO rehearses weekly and puts on at least four concerts a year, each with a different conductor, drawn from all over the world. It’s an incredible privilege to be part of this group, allowing me to perform works I would never have had exposure to otherwise and significantly enriching my life.
“The joy that BPO has brought me proves the aphorism that you should seize opportunities when they present themselves, even if you have some self-doubt or you think that your chances of success may not be high.”
Rory has also embraced the opportunity to help others with his choice of career and volunteering.
“I was drawn to the law because of a desire to see my labour contribute to the improvement of society,” he said. “Practising law seemed the best way to marry that goal with my strengths and penchant for argumentation.
“To me, justice is the function of law, and the practice of law, properly done, promotes that end. To the extent that the practice of law frustrates that end, my hope is that whatever causes such frustration is altered.”
Rory has been President of the University of Queensland’s Justice and the Law Society (JATL) and student leader of the Human Rights Case Law Project at UQ’s Pro Bono Centre.
“JATL is in at least one respect like the bassoon – the unsung hero of UQ student societies. It is a society for law students who share the perspective that justice and the law are intertwined and think that law students can and should emphasise the role of the law in promoting justice,” he said.
“To that end JATL fundraises for important causes, raises awareness through panel events, publishes an incredible journal titled Pandora’s Box (which has published everyone from Kevin Rudd to Michael Kirby AC CMG and Patrick Keane AC KC), promotes careers in government, community legal centres, and much more (which tends to be underemphasised on university campuses).
“To any students at UQ reading this, I strongly recommend getting involved – it was an absolute highlight of my time at university.”
Lawchestra Committee Member Vivian Zhang said last month’s concert at the Old Museum Building’s Concert Hall had a lively audience, who also became members of the orchestra and clapped along to Offenbach’s Infernal Gallop and Strauss’ Radetzky March.
“The Lawchestra encourages anyone from the profession from all musical skill levels and backgrounds to join the Lawchestra.
“Many players have joined the Lawchestra without having picked up their instrument in years.”
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