28 November 2011

Wollongong Conservatorium of Music congratulates the finalists in the 2011 Music in Communities Awards, which have just been announced.

In particular, Berry Public School has been named a finalist for its partnership with Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

This partnership, initiated through the Illawarra Chapter of the Music in Communities Network, provides staff and students access to experienced Conservatorium tutors, allowing the school to enhance their music curriculum with a comprehensive program of band, ensemble and individual tuition. Berry Public provides a performance platform for Conservatorium ensembles, giving Conservatorium students the opportunity mentor younger students.

"Our links with the Wollongong Conservatorium have made a significant improvement to the value of music within the school," says principal Peter Burney.

Two other finalists have an association with Wollongong and the Conservatorium.  Gunnedah Conservatorium is one of the smaller of 17 Regional Conservatoriums in NSW (Wollongong being one of the largest) and has been nominated for the Gunnedah and District Schools Spectacular.  Rob Carr was a convenor of the State of the Music Scene Forum in Wollongong earlier this year, which has stimulated discussion about music scene issues.  Rob presented a talk about the forum at the Community Music Conference at Wollongong Town Hall in May 2011, co-presented by the Conservatorium, to share ideas about the contemporary music scene with the Illawarra Chapter of the Music in Communities Network.

These finalists highlight some of the great leaders and initiatives happening in the Illawarra musical community.  Last year's finalists included David de Santi of the Illawarra Folk Festival, also a collaborator with the Conservatorium ensemble "The Con Artists".

Congratulations to all of the nominees and finalists in this year's awards.  Winners will be announced shortly, see www.musicincommunities.org.au for more information.

Click here to read about all 18 finalists.

The Music in Communities Network is a program run by the Music Council of Australia.  Wollongong Conservatorium of Music has a strong involvement in community music, having co-presented the first MiCN Conference in 2010, and the first "second conference". It presented the Illawarra Music Festival in 2011, including new projects the Illawarra Festival Orchestra and Illawarra Sings as well as co-presenting Bands on the Green.  It community music ensemble is the Concord Community Band.