About

As one of Australia’s oldest and most distinguished tertiary music schools, the Elder Conservatorium plays a leading role in Australia’s musical landscape.

We have close links with other educational and professional bodies within South Australia and across the country and maintain strong connections with institutions in the UK, USA, Canada, Asia and Europe. Our graduates hold positions of national and international influence as performers, composers, educators, scholars and administrators.

The Elder Conservatorium of Music offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, covering all professional areas of the music industry. This comprehensive suite of programs - including degrees, postgraduate diplomas and masters programs - is designed to meet the needs and aspirations of a wide variety of students. With specialisations such as Performance (classical and jazz), Composition, Music Teaching, Sonic Arts, Pedagogy, Musicology and Popular Music and Creative Technologies, there are many possible pathways that can be followed.

Students enrolled in other degree programs within the University can also study general interest music courses and some of the ensembles are open to students outside of the Elder Conservatorium of Music.

In accordance with our Conservatorium mission, we are committed to providing an environment in which students can achieve the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary for professional employment and for continued personal and musical growth. We also place great value upon adaptability, flexibility and independence. These qualities are essential to the development of a successful career, whether in the field of music or beyond. They lead to a breadth and depth of experience, enabling graduates to recognise and grasp the opportunities that come their way and to make genuine choices about their future.

The Elder Conservatorium is fully committed to the interests of its students and to its place within the wider artistic and educational environment. We welcome you to this unique and vibrant community of musicians. In their position as Quartet-in-Residence, the Australian String Quartet undertake vital work on campus, providing world-class engagement opportunities for students and the wider community through a diverse annual schedule of concerts, masterclasses, open rehearsals and string musician coaching, and support innovation and research outputs in the creative and cultural sectors. Each member of the ASQ is also a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide.