One Summer’s Day: Studio Ghibli Favourites for Solo Piano by Joe Hisaishi

Tamara-Anna Cislowska (Piano)ABC Classics (4855891) I first learnt of the Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi (b 1950) via two teenage sons at the time some years back. He was well-known as a composer of “game” music, a genre which has now risen significantly in the music composition world. So much so, that even ABC Classic FM broadcasts a … Read more

A new chapter

After nearly 16 years as Director of Music at The King’s School working with wonderful staff and students, it is time to change direction.  But in going forward, I am proud of the many achievements in growing the music programme and building excellence in performance, composition and academics. On reflection, the highlights over this time … Read more

Three evolutionary perks of singing

All together now – three evolutionary perks of singing Susan Maury, Monash University We’re enjoying the one time of year when protests of “I can’t sing!” are laid aside and we sing carols with others. For some this is a once-a-year special event; the rest of the year is left to the professionals to handle … Read more

Here’s why non-government schools work better

by KEVIN DONNELLY The Australian 12:00AM December 28, 2016 (Retrieved from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/heres-why-nongovernment-schools-work-better/news-story/2bb048b548d706d1ba6e2fb2291cc714) In 2004, in Why Our Schools are Failing, I argued Australia’s competitive academic curriculum was being “attacked and undermined by a series of ideologically driven changes that have conspired to ­reduce standards and ­impose a politically correct, mediocre view of education on our … Read more

Barry Walmsley

Murwillumbah’s music man

CONDUCTING, adjudicating, playing, writing and composing…Barry Walmsley has almost done it all in the world of music.

So as adjudicator at the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts, currently underway at the local civic centre, he is the ideal man to be giving advice to young musicians.

Poor Parenting Skills

How entitled children are making their parents’ lives hell Cosima Marriner and Rachel Browne Published: January 3, 2016 – 11:17AM “She terrorises us.” That’s how bad it is for Steve Richardson* and his wife when their 17-year-old daughter is at home. Olivia has dropped out of school and goes missing for days at a time. … Read more

Carols at King’s

The King’s School’s Annual Festival of Lessons & Carols will be held on Sunday 30 November at 7.30pm in Futter Hall. The boys of The King’s School Choir will help you celebrate Christmas at this very special event.

Peter Sculthorpe (20 April 1929 – 8 August 2014)

(Reproduced from ACO Concert Programme: Tognetti’s Beethoven, 2014) Our good friend Peter was Australia’s foremost classical music composer, and one of our most original and distinctive creative voices in any medium. Born and schooled in Launceston, he undertook university studies at Melbourne, under Bernard Heinze, and Oxford, where in 1958 his tutor, composer Edmund Rubbra, … Read more

Dumbing Down for a Decade

This appeared on the UK’s Daily Mail website and provokes thought about the adequacy of some educational systems and what can be done to make improvements. British pupils have slipped down international league tables in key subjects over the past decade. The most authoritative comparison is the Programme for International Student Assessment carried out by … Read more

MCA MEMBERS’ OCCASIONAL BULLETIN From the Executive Director, Music Council of Australia

Dear members, Here is an update on a number of important (if slow!) developments in the music world, along with my cheery, optimistic comments. The National Curriculum. This has quietly been renamed the Australian Curriculum. Maybe the PM’s continuing references to ‘our nation‘ made change desirable. The first draft of the curriculum for music and the … Read more