Loxton tour: July

For our very first Regional tour, the Elder Conservatorium of Music's Open Music Academy was resident in Loxton, in the heart of the beautiful Riverlands region.

The staff for this tour were Lucinda Collins (Head of Keyboard, Elder Conservatorium of Music), George Torbay (Head of Music Theatre, Elder Conservatorium of Music), Dr Emily Dollman (Associate Director Music Education and Artistic Director, Open Music Academy) and Julian Ferraretto (Jazz musician and Creative Music Workshop Leader).

Together we delivered a diverse program of events across three days, working with 196 students and delivering Professional Development to 28 staff members. The students covered a wide range of ages and backgrounds, from local state primary and high school students, private school students, students enrolled in ‘Music Alive’, and students of the Riverlands Special School.

Creative Music Workshops - these sessions saw students creating their own original pieces of music on the theme of the River Murray and its place in their lives. The students’ commitment to their musical output and their obvious pride and deep connection with their home country led to the creation of some beautiful musical compositions.

Music Theatre - George Torbay worked with Loxton High School music students, drama students, choir members and musical cast in a stimulating and motivating workshop session on Friday July 26. This workshop consisted of information about pathways in Music Theatre and training; general information about singing; and warm-ups for singing.  George also conducted a masterclass with students performing and then being given coaching on their approach. The session with George was a valuable opportunity for the students and staff at Loxton High School to benefit from his experience and expertise in the field of Music Theatre, as they were in the rehearsal period for their annual school musical (Little Shop of Horrors). Three of the students who took part in the session with George subsequently successfully applied for a scholarship through the Open Music Academy’s new Regional Scholarship Program.

Masterclasses - Lucinda Collins and George Torbay delivered masterclasses with local piano and voice students from the Riverlands Region at St Peter’s Lutheran Church at Loxton. This session offered some of the more advanced music students an invaluable opportunity to gain advice and encouragement from the two leading experts in the State in these instruments. This was also a professional development opportunity for local piano and voice teachers, who have given very positive feedback regarding the support and fresh energy that this session brought to their work. These masterclasses were delivered in partnership with the local music education business ‘Music Alive’, which is based in Loxton under the excellent leadership of Karyn Skewes. 

Program