Elder Conservatorium

02/12/2024

Enter a world of vibrant colour and timeless drama at the Australian Youth Orchestra's 2025 Summer Music Festival, where every note tells a story. Led by internationally acclaimed conductors Alexander Briger, Natalia-Luis-Bassa, and Andrew Haveron, and creatively directed by the brilliant Monica Curro, next year's festival is a feast for the senses. Immerse yourself in the romance of Strauss, the drama of Dvořák, and the Nordic beauty of Sibelius. Be transported to the battlefields of Eastern Europe with Janáček's 'Taras Bulba' and explore contemporary gems by Mexican composers Gabriela Ortiz and Arturo Márquez. Don't miss this opportunity to hear three contrasting works by Australia's own Jessica Wells, this year's composer-in-residence. Book a single ticket, or savour them all with a festival pass.

Saturday 11–Saturday 18 January 2025
More info and tickets at ➡ https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ayo-summer-music-festival-tickets-1038711041687

01/12/2024

Claire Edwards and Emily Granger perform new music for marimba and harp on The Hush Foundation's latest album, 'Magic Sky' (a recent feature album on ABC Classic), including 'Patients and Grace' by our Adjunct Lecturer in Composition, Dr Anne Cawrse. Exploring the experience of waiting in hospital spaces and aiming to ease the anxiety of patients and families, 'Magic Sky' also features music by Australian composers Elena Kats-Chernin, Andrea Keller, Hilary Kleinig, Natalia Mann, Katia Mestrovic, Jessica Wells, and Sally Whitwell.

Stream the album ➡ https://emilygranger.com/magic-sky

30/11/2024

The Adelaide Festival's full program for 2025 is now on sale, which includes Kaija Saariaho's opera 'Innocence' (starring Teddy Tahu Rhodes) and the welcome return of the 'Daylight Express' series (Friday 28–Friday 14 March) in Elder Hall. There are a number of exciting concerts featuring Elder Conservatorium staff and alumni in this series, including:

Lumen: Towards the Light 💡
Featuring Lloyd Van't Hoff (clarinet), Emma Gregan (horn), Lucinda Collins (piano), Anna Goldsworthy (piano), Elizabeth Layton (violin), Stephen King (viola), and Edith Salzmann (cello)
📆 Friday 28 February 12.30pm
Tickets ➡ https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/towards-the-light/

Claire de Sévigné: From Mozart to the Merry Widow 🎤
Featuring Canadian soprano Claire de Sévigné with Lloyd Van't Hoff (clarinet) and Michael Ierace (piano)
📆 Monday 3 March 12.30pm
Tickets ➡ https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/from-mozart-to-the-merry-widow/

Robert Dessaix: Music in My Life and Work ✍️
Featuring acclaimed Australian author Robert Dessaix and Professor Anna Goldsworthy (piano)
📆 Friday 7 March 12.30pm
Tickets ➡ https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/music-in-my-life-and-work/

29/11/2024

'We are very excited to be launching the new Open Music Academy (OMA) 2025 program, designed to be a space for South Australia's talented young musicians to develop, create and connect. Our comprehensive programs offer students aged five and above the flexibility to move at their own pace, guided the Elder Conservatorium's world-class teachers. Beyond the city, our Regional Program brings the joy of music to communities around South Australia, fostering accessibility and inclusion through meaningful outreach and engagement. Please have a look at our newly designed website, spread the word and look out for events featuring OMA students throughout next year!

Edith Salzmann
Associate Director | Open Music Academy

Explore the new website ➡ https://able.adelaide.edu.au/music/engage/open-music-academy/explore-our-programs

📷: Dylan Henderson

28/11/2024

The Elder Conservatorium Chorale finished the year with a Christmas concert in the beautiful acoustic of St. John's Church, Halifax Street, last Sunday 24 November.

In a concert curiously titled 'Christmas Adjacent', the 65-voice Chorale (conducted by Associate Professor Carl Crossin and accompanied by Karl Geiger on piano and organ) presented a varied program of mostly Christmas music across a wide range of styles, and including music by Palestrina, John Tavener, Richard Rodney Bennet and Vaughan Williams. Our newest member of the Conservatorium staff, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, sang the baritone solo in Vaughan Williams' 'Fantasia on Christmas Carols'.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the concert however, was the fact that four of the works were by student composers (Kayla Hinton, Kristopher Man and Charile Wells) – all premiere performances – and some of the music was conducted by student conductors (Willow Barrett, Kayla Hinton, Jo Wei En Loh, Jordan Newsham, Tim Shephard and Charlie Wells). The concert was a wonderful opportunity to shine but it was also a rich display of the wealth of the Conservatorium's student creative talent.

27/11/2024

Ten bassists came together from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide for a three-day intensive (Wednesday 20–Friday 22 November), aptly named 'Bass Boot Camp'. They were all young professionals looking for a boost and a chance to refocus. Each day we had scale classes; worked our way through many of the most important studies and were introduced to some new ones; and worked on orchestral excerpts and bass ensemble repertoire. Each day had a masterclass and presentation on lesser-known repertoire and aspects of Historical Performance. The three days culminated in a short concert where we gave the Australian premiere of Philip Glass's 'The Not-Doings of an Insomniac'.

27/11/2024

On Tuesday 19 November, the Adelaide Critics Circle announced the shortlist for its 27th Annual Awards in 2024, drawn from a field of nearly 70 nominations. We're particularly delighted to see some of our staff, current students and alumni shortlisted!

🎶 Dr Anne Cawrse (our Adjunct Lecturer in Composition) has been shortlisted for the Individual Award – Professional, alongside the inspiring company of Christie Anderson (Artistic Director, Aurora Vocal Ensemble), Catherine Campbell (actor, for a body of work), and Julia Robinson (visual artist, for a body of work).

🎹 Pianist, current MPhil candidate and 2024 Recitals Australia Fellow Esmond Choi has been shortlisted for the Emerging Artist of the Year award. Esmond's impressive schedule this year has included performances of Liszt, Takemitsu, Messiaen, Bach, Galina Ustvolskaya, George Crumb and Charles Ives, in concerts presented by the Adelaide Fringe; Melbourne's Tempo Rubato; our own Elder After Hours series; and Recitals Australia.

🎙 Elder Conservatorium Open Music Academy alumna Charlee Watt – who studied Classical Voice with Sara Lambert (2021–22) – has also been nominated for the Emerging Artist of the Year Award for her jazz-inspired show 'Beating Up the Beatles', which played at the Adelaide Fringe and Cabaret Fringe festivals with a talented ensemble of Elder Conservatorium jazz alumni, including Musical Director David Goodwin on keys, Christina Guala on saxophone, Lewis Todd on drums, and Declan Horan on double bass.

💡 Composer-performer, sound artist and Elder Conservatorium PhD graduate Dr Jesse Budel has been shortlisted for the Independent Arts Foundation Award for Innovation, for 'A Soundmap of Karrawirraparri', supported by Inspiring South Australia and Soundstream New Music.

Congratulations Anne, Esmond, Charlee and Jesse! The Awards Ceremony will be held at Goodwood Theatre and Studios on Monday 9 December from 6.00pm. All are welcome to attend.

25/11/2024

For one night only, Marty Holoubek is back from Tokyo, bringing his unique sound and music to Adelaide's stage. Joining him are longtime collaborators Ben Todd on drums and Django Rowe on guitar, promising a night that celebrates years of shared musical chemistry. Expect a dynamic blend of jazz, indie-rock, and ambient that's spontaneous, heartfelt, and packed with the twists only this trio can deliver. Whether you're a seasoned listener or just ready to experience something new, Hal's Hall is the place to be.

📆 Friday 20 December
⌚ Doors open at 7.00pm, first set at 7.30pm
📍 Hal's Hall (Madley Rehearsal Studio), The University of Adelaide

Tickets available at ➡ https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1320877

24/11/2024

📣 Call for Papers: Music and Mediation Conference

Mediation, in all its possible senses, from transmission to conflict resolution, is particularly relevant in times of technological innovation, sustainability challenges, forced displacement and struggles for equality or survival. This conference, generously supported by the Musicological Society of Australia (MSA), is concerned with the ways music and the study of music may contribute to the many theories and practices around mediation.

🎤 Keynote speaker: Naomi Sunderland, Director, Creative Arts Research Institute, Griffith University

We invite proposals from all disciplines, for panels, individual papers, and round-table discussions.

📆 Monday 9–Tuesday 10 June 2025
📍 Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide

Deadline for abstracts: Monday 16 December 2024

More info ➡ https://able.adelaide.edu.au/music/news/list/2024/11/04/call-for-papers-music-and-mediation

23/11/2024

The 47th National Conference of the Musicological Society of Australia (MSA) will be held online from Thursday 28–Saturday 30 November. The program features over 100 individual papers and 6 panel sessions, presented by music scholars from Australia and around the world, with keynote lectures from Emily Dolan (Brown University, USA), and Tami Gadir (RMIT University, Australia). A broad range of local and global music research is represented in the program. Attendance is free, but registration is essential.

📆 Thursday 28–Saturday 30 November | 8.00am–5.30pm
📍 Online – Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT = UTC + 11)
Register ➡ https://events.humanitix.com/47th-national-conference-of-the-musicological-society-of-australia-2024

22/11/2024

On Thursday 31 October, Professor Anna Goldsworthy, Director of the Elder Conservatorium of Music, recorded the opening 2024 ABC Boyer Lecture at the ABC Ultimo Studios in Sydney – the first of four orations delivered by noted musicians and luminaries on classical music in the contemporary age.

In her keynote lecture, entitled 'Kairos', Anna traced how mentorship, music education and opportunity have led her into a deep relationship with classical music that reaches far beyond her career. Through the lens of her twenty-six-year collaboration with Dr Helen Ayres (violin) and Tim Nankervis (cello), the other two members of her Seraphim Trio, Anna talked about the preservation of culture, generational transfer, and finding 'kairos' ('the right, shared moment'). The lecture was broadcast nationally on ABC TV on Saturday 2 November, and is now available to stream on iview until 31 January 2025.

Award-winning pianist and writer, Professor Anna Goldsworthy, delivers the 2024 Boyer Lecture, Future Classic, accompanied by her Seraphim trio.

22/11/2024

Join Recitals Australia for an extraordinary afternoon of classical music next Saturday 30 November, as Euan Safey conducts a stunning performance of three iconic works. Featuring works that are a staple in the musical canon, this recital is a unique opportunity to hear emerging artists from Elder Conservatorium of Music at their very best.

📆 Saturday 30 November 2.30pm
📍 Grainger Studio (Adelaide Symphony Orchestra)

Tickets available at ➡ https://recitalsaustralia.org.au/programs/30-november-2024-special-event-euan-safey-conducts-appalachian-spring/

21/11/2024

We were delighted to welcome staff and students from Ngutu College to 'Mountains, Clouds, Streams' – our lunchtime concert on Friday 1 November. This concert featured the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra; William Barton playing Sculthorpe's iconic 'Earth Cry'; and the premiere of Stephen Whittington's new composition 'Mountains, Clouds, Streams'. Ngutu College is a new school in Woodville North with a strong focus on the arts and music. The school motto is: "Aboriginal Cultures are our 'soul', young people are our 'heart' and the Arts are our 'spine'." Following from the concert, the students met with William Barton and had a tour around the Conservatorium and found the experience very inspiring. They also left with a very special memento – a didgeridoo autographed by William Barton! We look forward to developing our connection with this school over the coming years.

20/11/2024

A number of Elder Conservatorium scholarships will open for application at 9.00am on Monday 2 December 2024 and close at 5.00pm on Friday 21 March 2025. If you're eligible for any of the scholarships listed below, we encourage you to start thinking about your application now!

🎵 Angela Lakin Scholarship ($3,000)
Open to OMA, Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music (Advanced) students who have a physical disability and/or can demonstrate financial need.

🎓Athol Lykke Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies in Music ($5,000)
Open to postgraduate coursework or postgraduate research students undertaking an advanced program of study in Great Britain or Ireland and/or practical training in Europe, Canada, USA or Australia.

🎻 Decie Denholm Scholarship in Music ($10,000)
Open to undergraduate, postgraduate coursework or postgraduate research students at the Elder Conservatorium, and recent graduates of no more than five years, to support advanced musical training at either the Elder Conservatorium or overseas institutions (such as a major conservatoire, academy, college, or school of music), or through a program of private study with an eminent teacher either in Australia or overseas.

🎤 George Boland Scholarship for Classical Voice ($50,000)
Open to postgraduate coursework and postgraduate research students specialising in classical voice. The scholarship will be offered to one male and one female graduate in music with preference given to graduates of not more than five years standing by application closing date.

✈️ John Perry Memorial Travel Scholarship ($12,000)
Open to undergraduate students at the Elder Conservatorium who are intending to travel (or have travelled) to competitions, performances or workshops as part of their musical studies, and can demonstrate financial need.

You can find more info about all our scholarships and prizes (including eligibility and how to apply) on our website ➡ https://able.adelaide.edu.au/music/student-support/scholarships-and-prizes

20/11/2024

The Elder Conservatorium Latin Ensemble performed another extremely well-received concert at the Murray Delta Juke Joint in Goolwa on Sunday 3 November. The 20-piece group led by Mark Ferguson is comprised of mostly jazz students but this year it has had six classical students in the ranks providing a wonderful opportunity for the different cohorts to get to know (and learn from) one another. For this concert Honours vocalist Tiffany Gaze joined the ensemble performing songs by alumni Dr Jo Lawry, Jasmine Hall and Mark Ferguson, while second-year jazz saxophonist Anibal Araya-Reyes, third-year jazz violinist Timothy Shepherd and first-year classical vocalist Rosy O'Connor provided vocals for Latin 'standards'. We are hoping to build our connections with this wonderful and incredibly supportive venue in 2025, a relationship initiated by our jazz saxophone lecturer Dustan Cox.

19/11/2024

Come and experience the brilliant and joyous sound of rising vocal talent Danica Elle at Hal's Hall. Danica graced us with an excellent performance in 2023 where she paid tribute to the iconic Ella Fitzgerald and is back this year to share with us her original pieces backed by her superb trio of Dave McEvoy (piano), Tasha Stevens (double bass) and Jack Barton (drums).

📆 Friday 22 November
📍 Hal's Hall, Madley Rehearsal Studio, The University of Adelaide
⌚️ Doors open at 7.00pm, first set at 7.30pm

Tickets available at ➡️ https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1319918

19/11/2024

Marmalade Circus, led by Head of Jazz Mark Ferguson, had their first gig in five years on Friday 8 November, performing to a sold-out crowd at the Queen Street Jazz Festival in Croydon. The band features nearly all alumni – Most Popular Jazz Artist from the SA Music Awards Adam Page on alto saxophone and flute (current PhD candidate), Jasmine Hall on trombone (BMus Advanced), Lazaro Numa on trumpet and flugelhorn (trumpet teacher and a current member of The Cat Empire), Shireen Khemlani on bass (BMus Hons) and John McDermott on drums (MMus and drum teacher). Marmalade Circus were a mainstay of the scene for many years, performing Ferguson's mix of jazz and world music at the Sydney Festival's 'Jazz in the Domain' (to 80,000 people), and the Manly, Glenelg, and Thredbo Jazz Festivals.

18/11/2024

Elder Conservatorium students and alumni had a stellar night on Thursday 7 November at the SA Music Awards, held at the Dom Polski Centre. Hosted by Triple J's Ash McGregor and Adelaide local Henry Doyle, the evening included performances from two groups featuring our Popular Music alumni – Sons of Zöku (Riccardo Da Silva and Hannah Yates), and My Chérie (Cherie de Klerk) – and a special Hall of Fame induction and performance from Guy Sebastian.

🥇 The awards were dominated by BMus (Popular Music) alumna Alexia Damokas (Aleksiah), who picked up four major awards, including Best New Artist, Best Solo Artist, the People's Choice Award for Best Pop Artist, and the $5,000 APRA AMCOS Emily Burrows Award.

🎤 Other Major and Industry award winners included BMus (Popular Music) alumna Annie Siegman (Best Music Educator); Electric Fields, featuring CASM alumnus Zacharia Fielding (Best Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander Artist); DEM MOB, featuring CASM alumni and current BMus (Creative Practice) students Elisha Umuhuri and Jontae Lawrie (Best Regional Artist); and Elder Conservatorium staff member Dr Oliver Fartach-Naini (2025 UNESCO Adelaide City of Music International Collaboration Award).

🎶 Current PhD candidate Adam Page won the People's Choice Award for Most Popular Jazz Artist; Sons of Zöku – BMus (Popular Music) alumnus Riccardo Da Silva and MPhil graduate Hannah Yates – won the People's Choice Award for Most Popular Experimental or Art Music Artist; Maisie B – BMus (Jazz) alumna Maisie Broadhead and her band of nearly all jazz graduates – won the People's Choice Award for Most Popular Folk Artist; and Brad Chicken & The Bootstraps – featuring BMus (Popular Music) alumni Lucas Sly – won the People's Choice Award for Most Popular Country Artist.

🎉 Congratulations to all the winners, and to the many talented Elder Conservatorium students and alumni who were nominated!