Wollongong Conservatorium of Music

02/12/2024

We’ve got your Christmas celebrations covered with spectacular events throughout December.

Wednesday 4th December from 7pm: SING & SIP at Waterfront Tavern Shellharbour - Community choir at its best join us for a fun filled night where singing and sipping combine in harmony!
https://waterfronttavern.com.au/whats-on/

Saturday 7th December from 7pm: ADVENT XXIV at the Gallery
Join WollCon’s Chamber Choir to celebrate the Christmas season.
Drawing on the traditional format of Lessons and Carols, the Chamber Choir will take you on a festive journey from ancient times to the modern day, including traditional carols for you to join in! Tickets: https://wollcon.com.au/event/advent-xxiv/

Thursday 12th December from 7pm: Carols in MacCabe Park
In association with Wollongong City Council we are thrilled to be part of this wonderful evening of entertainment.
A Christmas Band with WollCon staff and our amazing youth choirs. As well as carols, there will be a Circus Monoxide Youth Troupe, some roving entertainment, festive face painting, and visit from Santa and his elves. A free community event & everyone welcome!

Sunday 15th December from 10am: End Of Year Performance Day at WollCon. A free day or music making. Representing all genres, there’ll be something for everyone, from jazz to classical, singing to guitar ensembles.
WollCon’s annual concerto competition will be held in Room 1 / 2 and everyone is invited to experience our advanced students compete for the $1000 prize money. Everyone welcome!
Check out What'sOn at WollCon: https://wollcon.com.au/whats-on-at-wollcon/

26/11/2024

We had a wonderful visit from and .e.phoenix today who chose to rehearse a new piece at WollCon today. We enjoyed showcasing our beautiful Manor House as well. Stay tuned for future exciting events!

25/11/2024

A new rose for a special individual... the lovely Dot Hennessy.
Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley is pictured here with Dot and Annette Brown during the planting of a new rose to honour Inspiring Women, last Friday at Botanic Garden.
The ‘Inspirational Women’ rose species was created by Rose Breeder Vivienne Dixon on behalf of Dot who is a long-time Rotarian and PCYC NSW board member.
Congratulations Dot! And thanks Wollongong Botanic Garden for photos.

25/11/2024

Just a few extra photos from the Movie Music concert last Saturday at the Art Wollongong Art Gallery - what a beautiful concert location and congratulations to all the musicians!
Mikaela Johnson (conductor of the WollCon Symphony Orchestra) who is looking a lot like Princess Leia in this photo, is with Suzanne Cowan who conducts and manages the WollCon Symphonic Band.
Thanks Andrew for photos.

25/11/2024

Lock it in! Thursday 12th December from 7pm!

🎄✨ Join for a festive evening at MacCabe Park, Wollongong ✨🎄

Enjoy carols, entertainment, Wollongong Conservatorium of Music's Christmas Band & Youth Choirs, festive face painting, a visit from Santa + so much more! 🎅✨

🗓 Thursday, 12 December, 7pm - 8,30pm
💫 Free community event - everyone welcome!

Learn more: https://whatsoninwollongong.com.au/events/carols-in-maccabe-park/
City of Wollongong

24/11/2024

What a wonderful weekend of music - our hearts are full!
There was movie music at the gallery, Classics in the chapel (celebration of guitar) in Austinmer, and our musicians in residence The Chroma Quartet’s final concert at WollCon. Special guest and composer Alice Chance was there to hear the world premiere of her new piece - Circus Sketches… thank you to all who came to our concerts over the weekend. We hope you left inspired by the talent of our musicians.

23/11/2024

Wonderful to see Illawarra Choral Society performing today at St Francis Xavier Cerhedral -Stella Natalis - with soprano Georgia Cooper and stellar group of musicians.

Concertmaster Catrina Hughes and trumpet solo Simon Wolnizer.

Great community way to start the Christmas season with carols at the church.

21/11/2024

OPPORTUNITY ALERT!

We’ve just launched a new initiative - Creative Industries – Connectivity, which will deliver grants of up to $50,000 to support arts and cultural sector organisations, in collaboration with a creative industry business partner, to develop boundary-pushing projects and programs.

This new program charts a course for ongoing collaborative ventures across the arts, cultural and creative industries ecosystem, driving greater innovation, long-term sustainability and increased cultural exports.

Applications are invited from not-for-profit small-to-medium arts and cultural organisations collaborating with a creative business to deliver an innovative idea. The broad range of partner creative industries businesses include broadcasting and digital media, design, architecture and fashion, built and physical heritage, arts education, food and beverage and technology sector.

Applications are open until 17 March 2025. Find out more https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/creative-industries-connectivity

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Image credit:
Tender by CuriousWorks, Multi-panel Immersive Projection Environment, Sydney Opera House Tide Room, 2024 Image: Kiraiki Zakinthinos. Tender reveals the nuances and tender sides of the communities of Western Sydney through four individual but interconnected documentary films by multidisciplinary artists: Mohammad Awad (3awadi), Carielyn Tunion, Diamond Tat, and Sharon Mani.

19/11/2024

It was an absolute joy to have so many young musicians perform in the Mall last Friday.

18/11/2024

New CEO Annette Brown said the future was bright for WollCon, despite past uncertainty with the ongoing use of Gleniffer Brae.

"I think we're all going to find a way where this beautiful house can keep telling the stories through music, like it's done, for many more generations." - Annette.

And what happened to that plan to return functions to the Manor House?

18/11/2024

As a result of the recent Inquiry into Arts and Music Education and Training in New South Wales, we had a very special SITE VISIT to Wollongong Conservatorium of Music today (Monday 18th Nov).
The visiting committee, which included Ms Julia Finn MP (Chair), Dr Joe McGirr MP (Deputy Chair), Mr Anthony D'Adam (MLC), and Ms Jacqui Munro (MLC), learnt about many of our music programs (especially our InSchool program), had a tour of our buildings, met with teachers and some of our young students during their lessons, and even played percussion to one of our ‘Get Them Young’ songs.
It was a pleasure having you at WollCon today, and thanks to our Board representatives Nicky Sloan and Terumi Narushima for supporting the visit.
Julia Finn MP Dr Joe McGirr MP The Hon. Jacqui Munro MLC Anthony D'Adam NSW Legislative Council

17/11/2024

A huge shoutout to Renae Zink from Oxley College for hosting the Junior Strings Spectacular. Conceptualised by Adrian Davis (Head of Junior Strings at WollCon) the day is designed to provide a unique opportunity for students from regional areas - working with experienced educators and string players in a massed setting.
The concert incorporated over 100 students from Kindergarten to Year 9, and this year the students had esteemed string educator Loreta Fin (AM) to learn from.
A fabulous day celebrating young string musicians.

16/11/2024

Who attended the 90th celebration of the Wollongong City Brass Band on Saturday?
Two of our fabulous In Schools and Band Music teachers Louise Luke and Leanne Walton did, along with Annette Brown our new CEO.
Leanne is a conductor for the City of Wollongong Wind Band, and Louise was a band member for the celebration event.
Kate Hood (pictured in blue vest and black tie) is a student of Leanne's, was tutored by Louise at south Coast music camp, and by David Rooney at Keiraville Public School.
Her Grandfather Bill Short (pictured) is a past president of the band which began in 1934.
The band now has 6 bands and has concert bands, beginner band, brass bands and a daytime band (for retirees).
It was such a fantastic concert, and wonderful for WollCon to connect with community.
Wollongong Brass & Wind Bands

16/11/2024

What a great day at “Bands in the Mall” at Crown Street Wollongong yesterday (Friday).
FIVE bands from 3 schools all performed to a very appreciative and supportive community of parents, friends and the general public.
It was super great to have the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music new CEO, Annette Brown, come along and watch too.
The schools were:
Mount St Thomas Public School
Keiraville Public School and
Figtree High School

Thanks to WollCon Music Teachers Jenn Cook, Suzanne Cowan, David Rooney and Louise Luke.

14/11/2024

CEO Annette Brown joined in the fun of our Friday Morning Singing group (the Bushlarks) today. If you know of someone who might like to join drop us a line at [email protected]