Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (formerly the Queensland Conservatorium of Music) is a selective, audition based music school located in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia, and is part of Griffith University.

History

The Conservatorium was established by the

state government A state government is the government that controls a subdivision of a country in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or ...

and opened on 18 February 1957, with English composer

William Lovelock William Lovelock (13 March 189926 June 1986) was an English classical composer and pedagogue who spent many years in Australia. He was the first Director of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, and later became the chief music ...

as director. The school was originally located in

South Brisbane Town Hall The Old South Brisbane Town Hall is the heritage-listed town hall of the Borough of South Brisbane, later the City of South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located at 263 Vulture Street (on the south-west corner of the intersection of Gr ...

. In 1971 the Conservatorium became autonomous from the state government as a College of Advanced Education, and in 1975 relocated to a new complex at

Gardens Point Gardens Point is a peninsula in central Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located south of Alice Street and bounded by the Brisbane River on its other three sides. The Brisbane CBD lies immediately to the north of the point. Gardens Point ...

. The school opened a second campus in Mackay in 1989, which became part of

Central Queensland University Central Queensland University (alternatively known as CQUniversity) is an Australian public university based in central Queensland. CQUniversity is the only Australian university with a campus presence in every mainland state. Its main campus ...

in 1995. The Dawkins Revolution led to the Conservatorium becoming an institution of Griffith University in 1991. As part of this amalgamation, the school moved into its current facility in the South Bank Parklands in 1996, and was renamed Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

Queensland University of Technology Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a public research university located in the urban coastal city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. QUT is located on two campuses in the Brisbane area viz. Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove. The univ ...

took over the Conservatorium's Garden Point facilities, including the QUT Gardens Theatre as it became known. The institution is affectionately known as "the Con" to students. In 1999, the Conservatorium launched its Bachelor of Popular Music program and its new Gold Coast campus, both of which were established under the direction of Associate Professor Garry Tamlyn. From 2000 this course has been taught from an information technology facility in the Gold Coast Campus of Griffith University. In 2003 the Conservatorium Research Centre was opened as part of the 30 innovative research centres in the University. The Research Centre aims to investigate the dynamics of contemporary musical environments.

Facilities

Facilities include the Conservatorium Theatre—also used for smaller productions by Opera Queensland— which seats a maximum of 727 and has one of the highest fly towers in Australia, the Ian Hanger Recital Hall which seats 200 and the Basil Jones Orchestra Hall. There are also music production, post production, multimedia lab and recording facilities both in the South Bank and Gold Coast Campuses. The Queensland Conservatorium also includes the Young Conservatorium, an external, classical based music program for pre-schoolers to year 12 students. In the past 12 months the "Young Con" has engaged more than 1500 students in performances. In 2007 the Conservatorium celebrated its 50th anniversary with alumni reunions and visiting artists from around the world.

Staff

Former directors

Former director include: *

(1957–1959) *Basil Jones (1960–1980) *Roy Wales (1981–1987) *

Anthony Camden Anthony Camden (26 April 1938 – 7 March 2006) was the Principal Oboe and Chairman of the Board at the London Symphony Orchestra. He was also a founding member of the ensemble London Virtuosi and went on to become the Provost and Director of th ...

(1988–1993) *Simone De Haan (1996–2002) *Peter Roennfeldt (2002–2009) *Huib Schippers (2009–2012) *Don Lebler (2012–2013; acting) *Scott Harrison (2013–2020)

Notable staff

Notable staff include: * Julian Byzantine * John Curro * Janet Delpratt *

Margreta Elkins Margreta Elkins (born Margaret Ann Enid Geater; 16 October 19301 April 2009) was an Australian mezzo-soprano. She sang at The Royal Opera and with Opera Australia and other companies, but turned down offers to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, B ...

* Ralph Hultgren *

Carmel Kaine Carmel Kaine (22 March 193721 April 2013) was an Australian classical violinist. She was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales and studied at the New South Wales Conservatorium, graduating at age 17 with the prize for the most outstanding student ...

Stephen Leek Stephen Leek (born 1959) is an Australian composer, conductor, educator, and publisher who specialises in choral music. Early life Leek was born in Sydney in 1959, lived in Brisbane from 1964 through 1969, and then spent the rest of his childho ...

Peter Musson International bassoonist and bassoon teacherPeter Musson Born Auckland 21st May 1940 Died Brisbane 8th April 2022 was a principal Bassoonist in the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Senior Lecturer in Bassoon at the Queensland Conservatorium and ...

* Max Olding *

Jan Sedivka Jan Boleslav Sedivka (in Czech: Šedivka) (Slaný, 8 September 1917 Hobart, 23 August 2009), Czech-born, was one of Australia's foremost violinists and teachers. Biography Educated in Czechoslovakia (Otakar Ševčík and Jaroslav Kocián), Fra ...

* Larry Sitsky * Donald Smith, father of alumnus

Robin Donald Donald Robin Smith (born 26 March 1942) is an Australian operatic tenor who is known professionally as Robin Donald. He is the son of the Australian operatic tenor Donald Smith. Robin performed leading operatic tenor roles, including Rudolfo i ...

Paul Terracini Paul Terracini (born 1957) is an Australian composer, conductor, and educator. Life and career Dr Paul Terracini started out his musical career holding a permanent position of Principal Trumpet from 1975 till 1979 within the Australian Opera ...

1982–88 *

Vanessa Tomlinson Vanessa Tomlinson (born 1971) is an Australian percussionist, composer, artistic director and educator. She is Director of Creative Arts Research Institute and Head of Percussion at Griffith University and has produced 150 publications. She is ...

* Carl Vine * Lev Vlassenko *

Natasha Vlassenko Natalia Lvovna "Natasha" Vlassenko (Russian: Ната́лья Льво́вна Вла́сенко; born 20 November 1956) is a Russian-Australian pianist and teacher. Life Natasha Vlassenko was born in Moscow, Soviet Russia, to pianist Le ...

* Nancy Weir *

Christopher Wrench Christopher Wrench (born 14 October 1958 in Brisbane, Australia) is an organist and lecturer.Re ...

Alumni

Notable students who attended the Queensland Conservatorium of Music include:Alumni – Queensland Conservatorium
Accessed: 14 June 2007. * Daniel Amalm *

Jason Barry-Smith Jason Barry-Smith (born 12 December 1969) is an Australian operatic baritone, vocal coach, composer, and arranger. He works with organisations such as Opera Queensland, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Seven Network, and the Queensland Youth ...

Jeffrey Black Jeffrey Black (born September 6, 1962) is an Australian baritone who has had an active international performance career since the early 1980s. A frequent performer with Opera Australia and the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, he has performed lead ...

* Ray Chen *

Gerry Connolly Gerald Edward Connolly (born March 30, 1950) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 11th congressional district, first elected in 2008. The district is anchored in Fairfax County, an affluent suburban count ...

Sarah Crane Sarah Crane (born 9 September 1972 in Brisbane) is an Australian operatic soprano. Education After attending All Hallows' School in Brisbane, Crane graduated in 1997 from the Queensland Conservatorioum of Music and received the Brisbane Lord M ...

*Tyson Illingworth (known as

TyDi TyDi (; born Tyson Illingworth, 31 May 1987) is an Australian songwriter, record producer and DJ specializing in electronic dance music. Originally from Queensland, TyDi was signed by Armin van Buuren's Armada label at 17 and was ranked at No ...

) * Brett Dean *

Candy Devine Candy Devine, MBE (born ca. 1939) is the stage name of Faye Ann McLeod (born Faye Ann Guivarra), an Australian-born broadcaster, singer, and actress. She was a radio broadcaster and singer in Northern Ireland for over 35 years. Early years ...

, son of Conservatorium teacher Donald Smith *

Helen Donaldson Helen Donaldson (born 14 March 1968 in Rockhampton, Queensland) is an Australian operatic soprano, best known for her performances of the heroines in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Biography Donaldson started singing at the age of seven, after win ...

Lisa Gasteen Lisa Kinkead Gasteen AO (born 13 November 1957), is an Australian operatic soprano, known for her performances of the works of Wagner. She won the Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 1991. She did not perform between 2008 and 2011, due to ...

Clare Gormley Clare may refer to: Places Antarctica * Clare Range, a mountain range in Victoria Land Australia * Clare, South Australia, a town in the Clare Valley * Clare Valley, South Australia Canada * Clare (electoral district), an electoral district * ...

and Miriam Gormley"Vice Chancellor's Report to Council"
, 2 December 2013, p. 22 * Dami Im * Graeme Jennings * Astrid Jorgensen * Kanon (singer) * Lynette Lancini *

Piers Lane Piers Lane (born 8 January 1958) is an Australian classical pianist. His performance career has taken him to more than 40 countries. His concerto repertoire exceeds 75 works. Early life Lane's English father and Australian mother met while au ...

Rosario La Spina Rosario La Spina is an Australian operatic tenor who has had an active international career since the early 2000s. He has worked with many leading opera houses and orchestras, singing under such conductors as Renato Palumbo, Bruno Bartoletti, ...

Adam Lopez Adam Lopez Costa (born 26 August 1975) is an Australian pop musician, vocal coach, and session vocalist. He is noted for his ability to produce extremely high notes in his whistle register and for his extensive six-octave vocal range. From 2008 ...

Tahu Matheson Tahu John Parke Matheson (born 1977) is an Australian classical pianist and conductor. He was born in London, grew up in Australia, and currently resides in London. Career Piano Tahu began his piano studies at the age of five with his father, ...

* Kate Miller-Heidke * Katie Noonan *

Barnaby Ralph Barnaby Ralph (born 14 October 1969) is a professional virtuoso recorder player. He studied with a number of teachers, including Rosalind Kelly and John Martin in Australia and Hans Maria Kneihs in Vienna. In 2000, he was awarded the Postgraduate ...

John Rodgers (musician) John Rodgers (born 1962) is a Brisbane-based Australian composer, improviser, violinist, pianist and guitarist. Early life Rodgers was born in North Queensland and spent his early years there. Education Rodgers was awarded the 1983 Vada Jef ...

Barry Singh Barry Singh is the artistic director and conductor of the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra. His journey from a banana plantation in the Murwillumbah Hinterland to the Queensland Conservatorium and to the establishment of the premier orchestra f ...

Megan Washington Megan Alexanda Washington (born 7 January 1986) is an Australian musician and songwriter who has worked mononymously as Washington. Originally performing jazz music, her style shifted to indie pop and alternative rock. She has released three ...

Jonathon Welch Jonathon Charles Welch (born 5 October 1958) is an Australian choral conductor, opera singer and voice teacher. As a singer, Welch has been a tenor for the Victoria State Opera, Lyric Opera of Queensland and Opera Australia. During 2006 Welc ...

Christopher Wrench Christopher Wrench (born 14 October 1958 in Brisbane, Australia) is an organist and lecturer.Re ...

The Kite String Tangle The Kite String Tangle (also known as TKST) is the solo project of Brisbane-based alternative electronic artist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Danny Harley. Harley launched the project in 2012 and released an EP titled ''Vessel'' in 2014. ...

TwoSet Violin TwoSet Violin is a musical comedy duo consisting of Australian violinists Brett Yang and Eddy Chen. The pair is best known for their musical comedy on their YouTube channel, which has reached over 3.8 million subscribers and 1.2 billion views a ...

(Brett Yang and Eddy Chen)

Awards

APRA Classical Music Awards

The APRA Classical Music Awards are presented annually by

Australasian Performing Right Association APRA AMCOS consists of Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS), both copyright management organisations or copyright collectives which jointly represent over 100,000 songwr ...

(APRA) and Australian Music Centre (AMC). , - ,

2006 File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum, votes to declare ...

, , ''Encounters: Meetings in Australian Music'' program – curated by Vincent Plush – Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre, Griffith University , , Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation , ,

References

External links

* *
Queensland Conservatorium Events Homepage
{{authority control APRA Award winners Music schools in Australia Education in Brisbane Culture of Brisbane Tourist attractions in Brisbane Buildings and structures in Brisbane Griffith University 1957 establishments in Australia Educational institutions established in 1957 South Brisbane, Queensland Colleges of Advanced Education