Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University facts for kids
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Former names
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Queensland Conservatorium of Music |
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| Type | Public |
| Established | 1957 |
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Parent institution
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Griffith University |
| Director | Bernard Lanskey |
| Students | 800 |
| Location |
,
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Australia
27°28′36″S 153°01′14″E / 27.4766°S 153.0205°E |
The Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University is a special music school in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's often called "the Con" by its students. This school is part of Griffith University. To get in, students usually need to pass an audition, showing their musical talent.
Contents
How the Conservatorium Started
The Queensland Conservatorium opened its doors on 18 February 1957. The government of Queensland helped set it up. The first director was an English composer named William Lovelock. The school was first located in the old South Brisbane Town Hall.
In 1971, the Conservatorium became more independent. It moved to a new building at Gardens Point in 1975. Later, in 1989, a second campus opened in Mackay. This Mackay campus later joined Central Queensland University in 1995.
Joining Griffith University
In 1991, the Conservatorium became part of Griffith University. This was a big change for the school. As part of this move, the Conservatorium got a new home in the South Bank Parklands in 1996. This is where it is located today. At this time, its name changed to Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. The old building at Gardens Point was taken over by Queensland University of Technology.
New Music Programs and Research
In 1999, the Conservatorium started a new program for popular music. It also opened a new campus on the Gold Coast. From 2000, the popular music course was taught at the Gold Coast Campus of Griffith University.
In 2003, the Conservatorium opened a special Research Centre. This centre studies how music works in today's world. In 2019, the popular music course moved to the South Bank campus. It became a main subject within the Bachelor of Music degree.
What Facilities Does the Conservatorium Have?
The Conservatorium has many great places for music. It has the Conservatorium Theatre, which can seat up to 727 people. This theatre is also used for smaller shows by Opera Queensland. It has a very tall "fly tower," which is used to lift scenery during performances.
There is also the Ian Hanger Recital Hall, which seats 200 people. The Basil Jones Orchestra Hall is another important space. The school also has modern studios for making music, editing sounds, and recording. These are at both the South Bank and Gold Coast campuses.
Young Conservatorium Program
The Queensland Conservatorium also runs the Young Conservatorium. This program is for younger students, from pre-schoolers to those in their final year of high school. It teaches classical music. In recent years, over 1500 young students have taken part in performances through this program.
In 2007, the Conservatorium celebrated its 50th birthday. There were special events, including reunions for past students and visits from famous artists from all over the world.
Who Has Led the Conservatorium?
The Conservatorium has had many directors over the years. They help guide the school and its students.
Past Directors of the Conservatorium
- William Lovelock (1957–1959)
- Basil Jones (1960–1980)
- Roy Wales (1981–1987)
- Anthony Camden (1988–1993)
- Simone De Haan (1996–2002)
- Peter Roennfeldt (2002–2009)
- Huib Schippers (2009–2012)
- Don Lebler (2012–2013; acting director)
- Scott Harrison (2013–2020)
Who Are Some Famous People From the Conservatorium?
Many talented musicians and artists have either taught at or studied at the Queensland Conservatorium.
Notable Staff Members
Some of the famous people who have taught at the Conservatorium include:
- Nora Baird MBE
- Julian Byzantine
- John Curro
- Janet Delpratt
- Margreta Elkins
- Ralph Hultgren
- Carmel Kaine
- Stephen Leek
- Peter Musson
- Max Olding
- Jan Sedivka
- Larry Sitsky
- Donald Smith
- Paul Terracini
- Vanessa Tomlinson
- Carl Vine
- Lev Vlassenko
- Natasha Vlassenko
- Nancy Weir
- Christopher Wrench
Famous Students (Alumni)
Many students who went to the Queensland Conservatorium have become well-known. Some of them are:
- Daniel Amalm
- Jason Barry-Smith
- Jeffrey Black
- Ray Chen
- Gerry Connolly
- Sarah Crane
- Tyson Illingworth (known as TyDi)
- Brett Dean
- Candy Devine
- Robin Donald
- Helen Donaldson
- Lisa Gasteen
- Clare Gormley and Miriam Gormley
- Dami Im
- Graeme Jennings
- Astrid Jorgensen
- Kanon (singer)
- Piers Lane
- Rosario La Spina
- Adam Lopez
- Tahu Matheson
- Kate Miller-Heidke
- Courtney Monsma
- Katie Noonan
- Barnaby Ralph
- John Rodgers (musician)
- Barry Singh
- Megan Washington
- Jonathon Welch
- Christopher Wrench
- The Kite String Tangle
- TwoSet Violin (Brett Yang and Eddy Chen)
Awards and Achievements
The Queensland Conservatorium has received awards for its contributions to music.
APRA Classical Music Awards
The APRA Classical Music Awards celebrate achievements in classical music in Australia. They are given out every year by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and the Australian Music Centre (AMC).
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Encounters: Meetings in Australian Music program – curated by Vincent Plush – Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre, Griffith University | Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation | Won |
