Celebrating Musical Partnerships

The Mitchell Conservatorium is currently celebrating 35 years of music education, live music events and community partnerships in the region. The Mitchell Conservatorium started as the Central Western Music Centre in the Bathurst, Lithgow and Lachlan Shire (as well as Orange) in May 1978 and is now one of the largest regional Conservatoriums in NSW.



Mr Terry Walker, President Friends Committee Mitchell Conservatorium
Bathurst and Fiona Thompson Executive Director celebrate
Mitchell Conservatorium’s 35 year birthday
with Bathurst Campus Scholarship students.

Sam Phillips Principal of the Mitchell College of Advanced Education (now Charles Sturt University) appointed music education lecturer Laurie Orchard as convenor of the Educational and Cultural Committee reporting directly to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music who were looking to establish a central west regional conservatorium of music like those that had been established in Newcastle in 1952 and Wollongong in 1972. After much consultation with local music teachers, enormous support from local business and the Council their vision was to become a reality. Premises were made available at the west wing of the Bathurst Courthouse through the NSW State Government and Laurie Orchard went on to become the Conservatorium’s inaugural Director from 1978 to 1987. Growth and development continued with successive Director Max Reeder 1987 to 2005 and the Conservatorium continues to flourish under the current Directorship of Fiona Thompson. All three Directors are professional musicians in their own right and this link with performance and musical education has ensured quality teaching throughout the three campuses. Successful past students include Grahame Thompson, Dale Truscott - Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Chris Hillier - Australian Opera, Jacquie Smith- Gondwana Children’s Choir and Susan Scott as well as international successes Peter Constant, Michael Clarke, Helen Sherman and Carla Blackwood.



Fiona Thompson Executive Director celebrates
Mitchell Conservatorium’s 35 year birthday
with Bathurst Campus Scholarship students

The Mitchell Conservatorium continues to bring musical participation, achievement and enjoyment into the lives of children and adults of all ages by delivering a suite of core programs; individual tuition, groups & ensembles, instrumental & band tuition in schools, Early Childhood Music classes, theory, HSC support, scholarships and bursaries, extension activities such as workshops, master classes, chamber music, jazz bands and choirs. Every one of us is musical and even if you don’t play an instrument or read music you can hum, sing or beat box along with the TV or radio to classical, jazz, country, folk, rock rhythm & blues heavy metal or rap!

A Civic Reception

The Mitchell Young Voices performed our national anthem with conductor and teacher Michelle Griffin and teacher Nicholas Newell led a Mitchell Conservatorium student string ensemble as part of the civic reception hosted by the Bathurst  Regional Council last Tuesday, for Australia's Governor-General Her Excellency Quentin Bryce.

The Governor-General arrived and was greeted by Mayor Monica Morse who introduced Her Excellency to as many community members as possible. The Governor-General seemed relaxed and at home shaking hands and chatting with the crowd.

Well done to all the Mitchell Conservatorium performers who represented us so well!

Mitchell Conservatorium Alumni blitz The Voice auditions

Two former students of the Mitchell Conservatorium have made an early impression on judges and audiences alike in the blind audition round of of the televsion sensation The Voice.

Celia Pavey from Forbes and Ryan Sanders from Bathurst both enjoyed learning music at The Con, Celia studying guitar (with Doug Richards) and violin and Ryan studying singing with Jon Lewis successfully completing his HSC music subjects with Jon in 2011.



Celia Pavey with Delta Goodrum of The Voice

Ryan Sanders

We wish them both much success in the next round of The Voice!

photos couretesy of the Parkes Champion Post and Western Advocate.

CONversation

CONversations - Forbes Advocate Column

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April 2013

2013 marks the 35^th anniversary of the Mitchell Conservatorium – here’s a note on how it all began:

“Let’s grasp the baton” was the community call for the establishment of the State’s first regional, community-based, pre-tertiary and non-profit Music Centre in Bathurst and Orange, which became a reality in May 1978. The move to the West Wing of Bathurst Court House in 1980 was far-sighted and positive. Lithgow and Forbes Divisions (and for nine and a half-years, Wentworth Falls) subsequently joined under our umbrella. In 1995, Mitchell Conservatorium became incorporated and one year later, the Orange Regional Conservatorium became independent. We celebrated our Silver Anniversary in 2003 and our 30th Anniversary in 2008, to great acclaim in the community.

 A full house in Canowindra

Prize-winning concert pianist Daniel De Borah performed on the newly restored Collard and Collard Piano at All Saints Church, Canowindra. With thanks to Arts NSW, Daniel performed a program of Romantic period piano repertoire including Schumann and Brahms. We also thank the 90-odd audience members who turned up to support the concert.

Bass Clef Goes West – a Grand Finale

Thank you to our two tremendous tutors Justin Screen and Craig Alloway who led the final concert for these workshops at St John’s Anglican Church in Forbes. This community concert presented an eclectic program on instruments such as Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Baritone Saxophone, Tuba, Trombone and Euphonium. A hearty congratulations to all the participants.

I look forward to engaging in community music making with you!

Andrew Baker

Director, Lachlan Division

 

 

Sensational performances

Lithgow Show 2013 highligts

Two Mitchell Conservatorium students performed at the recent Lithgow Show on Saturday 16 March to very appreciative audiences.

Silas Burbank , electric guitar, played a number of well known pop tunes as well as improvisations of classical standards such as Bach’s Toccata & Fugue. One audience member stated “ He was so good that I thought it was a recording until I looked into the stage area and saw this young boy playing. Absolutely amazing!” Silas used his effects pedal to add extra variations to his music and demonstrate his skills of improvisation.

Mitchell Conservatorium student Callum Woodrow

Callum Woodrow also entertained a large and appreciative audience with his skills on the xylophone. Playing pieces such as Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Flight of the Bumble Bee and 1st movement of a Mozart violin concerto, Callum demonstrated his ability to play pieces with vastly different tempos and which used the entire keyboard of his instrument. He mesmerised the audience with the speed of his mallets which at times appeared to be no more than a blur.

Well done to both musicians, your performances were fantastic!

Music for the People!

The newly established Lachlan Community Orchestra has received a boost after Parkes Shire Council agreed to contribute $1500 towards operating costs in its first year.

At its meeting last week, council decided that future funding for the orchestra would be reviewed on an annual basis. Council would not agree to the request for funding until they had a chance to hear first-hand the background. Mr Andrew Baker, Director of the Lachlan Division of the Mitchell Conservatorium lodged the application with Council and it was tabled at a meeting in Peak Hill on March 5.

Trundle resident Paul Heves (cello) with cello tutor William Tu

Council however, felt it was important for Mr Baker to address them before a decision was made. This he did last Tuesday, where he pointed out that $1500 was also being requested from Forbes Shire Council, along with a funding request of $1100 to Northparkes Mines. With the orchestra in its infancy, the initial financial burden has fallen on the Mitchell Conservatorium.

However, to advance the orchestra’s future sustainability, Mr Baker prepared a budget which he presented to Council. Membership currently stands at 30 who all contribute the minimal of $10 per school term to participate.

Mr Baker said the philosophy behind the community-based orchestra was one of inclusiveness.

“Players are not auditioned or pre-selected in any way and may join the group at any stage of their musical journey,” he said.

He pointed out that members ranged in age from five to 82. The orchestra currently rehearses in the hall at the Assemblies of God Church after school on a Tuesday afternoon. “The orchestra is very grateful to pastor Andrew Taggart for providing the hall at no cost which has allowed us to begin rehearsals before acquiring any funding.”

It was also pointed out that rehearsals could also be shared between Parkes and Forbes, depending on the needs of the players. The inaugural performance of the LRCO is planned to take place in the middle of the year.

Cr Kenny McGrath congratulated Mr Baker on his presentation.

“I was the bloke who knocked you back at the meeting in Peak Hill, but your presentation here today was terrific,” Cr McGrath said. “I can now see how it will benefit all the interested people across the shire.” Councillors agreed, later voting unanimously to support the orchestra to the tune of $1500 and to review funding support each financial year.

Council in Tune

Andrew Baker addressed Parkes Shire councillors at Tuesday’s meeting in his role as Director of the Lachlan Division of the Mitchell Conservatorium. He requested funding of $1500 which was unanimously agreed to.

The newly established Lachlan Community Orchestra received a boost this week after Parkes Shire Council agreed to contribute $1500 towards operating costs in its first year. Future funding towards the sustainability of the orchestra will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Mr Andrew Baker, Director of the Lachlan Division of the Mitchell Conservatorium lodged an application with Council which was tabled at a meeting in Peak Hill on March 5.
At that meeting it was decided to invite Mr Baker to address a future Council meeting before a final decision could be made. This he did on Tuesday, where he pointed out that $1500 was also being requested from Forbes Shire Council along with a funding request of $1100 to Northparkes Mines. With the orchestra in its infancy, the initial financial burden has fallen on the Mitchell Conservatorium. However, to advance the orchestra’s future sustainability, Mr Baker prepared a budget which he presented to Council. Membership currently stands at 30 who all contribute the minimal of $10 per school term to participate. Mr Baker said the philosophy behind the community-based orchestra was one of inclusiveness.
“Players are not auditioned or pre-selected in any way and may join the group at any stage of their musical journey,” he said. He pointed out that members ranged in age from five to 82.
The orchestra currently rehearses in the hall at the Assemblies of God Church after school on a Tuesday afternoon.
“The orchestra is very grateful to pastor Andrew Taggart for providing the hall at no cost which has allowed us to begin rehearsals before acquiring any funding.” It was also pointed out that rehearsals could also be shared between Parkes and Forbes, depending on the needs of the players. The inaugural performance of the LRCO is planned to take place in the middle of the year.  Cr Kenny McGrath congratulated Mr Baker on his presentation. “I was the bloke who knocked you back at the meeting in Peak Hill, but your presentation here today was terrific,” Cr McGrath said. Councillors agreed, later voting unanimously to support the orchestra to the tune of $1500 and to review funding support each financial year.