General News
10 August, 2022
Musicians join forces across region
A GROUP of leading local musicians, teachers, festival creatives and community representatives have joined forces to start imagining the future opportunities for music training, creation and presentation in the region.
A GROUP of leading local musicians, teachers, festival creatives and community representatives have joined forces to start imagining the future opportunities for music training, creation and presentation in the region.
The group has commissioned a study to consider what is needed to extend the pathways for current and next-generation local students, teachers, composers and musicians.
This is an opportunity to explore how to enhance and complement music development, performances and education happening in our schools, venues and elsewhere across the region.
Pre-feasibility study committee member Fiona Pugh said there were 17 regional conservatoriums in New South Wales but only one in Melbourne and none in regional Victoria.
“The pre-feasibility study will help us determine how we should establish a central hub, academy or conservatory for music in the region,” she said.
“The survey is part of the pre-feasibility study so it’s vital we get Corangamite Shire residents to have their say."
“The study covers Corangamite, Moyne, Warrnambool, Southern Grampians and Glenelg and we want every shire represented for the project.”
Ms Pugh said the development of a conservatorium in the south west would provide a vital boost for future generations.
“We want this to be a first in Victoria, we want it to be in the south west, and we would like it to be a pilot project for the rest of the state,” she said.
“Music programs in schools are growing throughout the region and we need some kind of structural support to take this to the next level and have the full benefit for children to have all the opportunity they can possibly have."
“Neuroscience shows us a quality and sequential music education is vital to the development of children, so we see this program as helping build school engagement, retention rates and give the kids more self-esteem and health and wellbeing support."
“Other states are investing heavily in music education because they know the benefit itcan have.”
Conducted by consultants Tony Grybowski and Associates, the study will commence with a survey of arts organisations, education providers and interested members in the community.
The survey results will help to build a shared understanding of the breadth and diversity of participation, assess unmet demand and capture the aspirations for a thriving music industry for the region.
The study will also look beyond the region, seeking inspiration by examining leading examples of regional arts, education, academies and creative hubs.
Chair of the expert-led music collective Tony Herbert said the study was the first step in a larger scale project.
“We have a shared vision and passion for south west to be home for all stages of musical expression,” he said.
“We want to be able to support our local artists to learn, develop, teach and stay inthe region."
“We intend to use the outcomes of the study to consider what’s possible and design a bold, shared vision for music in the south west.”
The study has been made possible with support from the district foundations.
The overall project will run over the next three months and a report of the study will be presented to the project’s steering committee in September 2022.
The survey is open from now until August 19 for anyone connected to or passionate about music and the south west.
The survey is available at www.tonygrybowski.com/southwest-music-survey.