Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Natalie Paine is a French horn player in New Zealand’s navy. Since October, she has been among 21 military members stationed in Antarctica. In this remote place, her melodies drift across the frozen Ross Sea.
It is a demanding job that requires working six days in a row, leaving little time for music. Paine keeps an eye on the communication signals at New Zealand’s Scott Base, and sometimes, she talks to people who have not heard anyone else’s voice for weeks.
In whatever time she can find, Paine squeezes in scales and mouth exercises, going to great lengths not to disturb others on round-the-clock shifts.
Her practical dilemmas included finding an instrument suitable for Antarctica. She uses a plastic French horn, which is lighter than a brass one and less likely to freeze to her hands.
