BY MADELINE ROYCROFT
If you have ever questioned the amount of orchestral playing opportunities in Melbourne, this one goes out to you.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music formally announced their joining of forces in 2018 to offer a specialised course for music students – the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the launch (officiated by the dulcet tones of broadcasting icon Mairi Nicholson), representatives of MCM and MSO — two powerhouses of music education — came together in the foyer of Hamer Hall to share their excitement for the new Master of Music (Orchestral Performance).
Special guest Labor MP Martin Foley fittingly began his speech by likening this musical milestone to the theory of “twin flames” in Plato’s The Symposium. For those wishing to be better versed in Ancient Greek philosophy (I confess, I had a quick Google), this is the idea that soulmates only become whole upon finding each other. With this, Foley expressed confidence that the new partnership would attract the finest aspiring music students, who will receive “world class training that will be second to none”.
In addition to direct mentorship from musicians in the MSO, the Masters of Music (Orchestral Performance) will provide training in key areas of orchestral operations such as artistic programming, education outreach, marketing and philanthropy, ensuring its participants enjoy a holistic orchestral education.
Such a course is long overdue for music students not only in Victoria, but Australia and its surrounds. University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis proudly announced that the program’s unique format would make it the first of its kind in Australasia, adding that Helsinki was the only comparable example of a co-located school and orchestra. (Honestly, dear reader, I think if we’re modelling this degree on anything from Scandinavia, we’re probably on the right track.) Nodding heads were abundant when Davis asked the room: “Why didn’t we do this sooner?”.
While student intake will begin in 2018, the Masters will ultimately be based at the new state-of-the-art conservatorium building, announced by the Andrews government in mid-2016. Set for completion in 2019, the MCM’s new home will be located across the road from the MSO, in the heart of Melbourne’s arts precinct.
In a brief video interview, MSO first violinist Sarah Curro shared her thoughts on the difficulty students face when transitioning from abundant youth orchestra opportunities to professional playing: “A course like this fills that gap”.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions was signed as MCM Director Gary McPherson, along with Davis, MSO Managing Director Sophie Galaise and Chairman Michael Ullmer all took to the stage in ceremony. The excited energy and muffled chatter that crept into the room in this moment was not unlike being at a wedding. As Davis so eloquently put it, “together, we’re going to do something extraordinary”.
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Image courtesy MSO.
