A Day at the Con 2024!
On Saturday 24 August 2024, the Elder Conservatorium of Music opens up its doors to the community with 'A Day at the Con'. As the home of music education in South Australia, we invite students to join us for the day, making music with our brilliant staff and ensembles.
Students are invited to free workshops, masterclasses, and ensemble activities, across the disciplines of Classical Performance, Jazz Performance, Music Theatre, and Creative Practice. Performances and demonstrations will include Elder Conservatorium staff, current students and alumni.
This event is a wonderful opportunity for students to connect with our current staff and students, allowing participants the chance to ask faculty and current students about what life is like at the Elder Con. Come and join our community!
THE CHORAL EXPERIENCE – SESSION FOR ALL STUDENTS
High School Students
Come and sing with the Elder Conservatorium Chorale!
This session is open to high school students of any instrument and any stream (Classical, Jazz, Music Theatre and Creative Practice). Vocalists and instrumentalists are both welcome!
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
Register
Please contact Associate Professor Carl Crossin OAM (Head of Classical Voice) with further questions.
T: +61 8 8313 5924
E: carl.crossin@adelaide.edu.au
CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE
A warm welcome to high school students! Join our team of internationally celebrated performers and teachers for an exciting day of masterclasses and workshops!
Develop your playing and singing in a fun day of performance, collaboration and conversation.
Receive feedback on AMEB and SACE repertoire and polish those audition skills! Our experienced team of dedicated performers will share techniques and insights to take your playing to the next level!
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
Register
Please contact us to confirm appropriate standard required for your instrument.
Classical Keyboard
Year 9 to Year 12
Date: Saturday 24 August 2024
Time: 10.00am–12.00pm
Venue: Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide
In the 'Classical Keyboard' sessions at 'A Day at the Con! 2024', aspiring young pianists have the opportunity to perform in an open masterclass where pianistic skills and musicianship will be explored. Enjoy the opportunity to perform on a Steinway concert grand in the beautiful Elder Hall! Meet our keyboard staff and experience the environment of one of Australia's most distinguished tertiary music institutions.
Registration essential. We want to give as many pianists as possible the chance to perform but, depending on numbers, it may not be possible to accommodate everyone. All participants will be advised via email on or before Monday 19 August if they have been selected to play.
Observers are most welcome, and parents and family are also welcome to attend! Please indicate how many people will be attending on the registration form in the provided field.
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 10.00–11.15am | Masterclass with Lucinda Collins – 7th Grade to Advanced Level | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
| 11.15–11.30am | Refreshments | Elder Hall Foyer, The University of Adelaide |
| 11.30–11.45am | Showcase featuring performances by Elder Conservatorium keyboard students | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
| 11.45am–12.00pm | Q&A with Professor Anna Goldsworthy and Lucinda Collins | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
Registrations close at 1.00pm on Thursday 15 August 2024, or when session capacity is reached.
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
Register
Please contact Lucinda Collins (Head of Keyboard) with further questions.
T: +61 8 8313 5966
E: lucinda.collins@adelaide.edu.au
Classical Strings
High School Students Years 10–12
Date: Saturday 24 August 2024
Time: 10.00am–4.00pm
Venue: Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide
String players are warmly invited to meet the Elder Conservatorium string staff and perform their pieces! Observers are also welcome. Come and ask questions and learn about our varied music courses and double degrees.
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 10.00am–12.00pm | Elizabeth Layton (violin) | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
| 10.00am–12.00pm | Stephen King (viola) | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
| 10.00am–12.00pm | Edith Salzmann (cello) | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
| 2.00–4.00pm | Rob Nairn (bass) | Bishop Hall, Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
Register
Please contact Dr Elizabeth Layton (Head of Classical Performance and Head of Strings) with further questions.
T: +61 8 8313 3600
E: elizabeth.layton@adelaide.edu.au
Classical Guitar
High School Students
Date: Saturday 24 August 2024
Time: 9.30am–12.30pm
Venue: Hartley Concert Room, The University of Adelaide
The Classical Guitar session will include a technique workshop, a masterclass and a Q&A session with current undergraduate students, to help participants gain an understanding of what a tertiary degree in music entails and what the professional prospects of such a degree are.
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
Register
Please contact Dr Oliver Fartach-Naini (Head of Classical Guitar) with further questions.
T: +61 8 8313 9246
E: oliver.fartach-naini@adelaide.edu.au
Classical Woodwind
High School Students
Date: Saturday 24 August 2024
Time: 2.00pm–4.00pm
Venue: Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide
Join Kathryn Moorhead (flute) and Lloyd Van't Hoff (clarinet) for a Classical Woodwind workshop designed for high school students on Saturday 24 August, from 2.00–4.00pm. Register now for a chance to participate and enhance your skills with woodwind warm-ups and breathing techniques, delve into stylistic nuances and woodwind-specific methods in an open masterclass, engage in a Q&A session to get all of your woodwind and study-related questions answered, and enjoy a short performance by current students.
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2.00–2.30pm | Warmups and breathing exercises | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
| 2.30–3.30pm | Masterclass | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
| 3.30–3.50pm | Q&A | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
| 3.50–4.00pm | Student Showcase performance | Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide |
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
Register
Please contact Lloyd Van't Hoff (Head of Woodwind) with further questions.
T: +61 8 8313 5343
E: lloyd.vanthoff@adelaide.edu.au
Classical Brass
High School Students
Date: Saturday 24 August 2024
Time: 2.00–4.30pm
Venue: Madley Rehearsal Studio, The University of Adelaide
Come along and hone your brass skills with other young musicians in our technique class and brass ensemble! Participants must be at AMEB Grade 5 standard or above for trumpet, horn, trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, or tuba.
With Emma Gregan (horn) and Colin Prichard (trombone).
Registrations close at 1.00pm on Thursday 22 August 2024, or when session capacity is reached.
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2.00–2.45pm | Warm-up and technique class | Madley Rehearsal Studio, The University of Adelaide |
| 2.45–3.00pm | Short break | Madley Rehearsal Studio, The University of Adelaide |
| 3.00–4.30pm | Brass ensemble | Madley Rehearsal Studio, The University of Adelaide |
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
Register
Please contact Emma Gregan (Head of Brass) with further questions.
T: 61 8 8313 0119
E: emma.gregan@adelaide.edu.au
Classical Percussion
High School Students Years 8–12
Date: Saturday 24 August
Time: 2.00–4.00pm
Venue: Madley Percussion Studio, MG12, The University of Adelaide
Join us for an exclusive masterclass with Amanda Grigg, Head of Percussion at the University of Adelaide. This free session is open to students in Years 8–12. Gain valuable experience in auditioning and performing, whether it's orchestral excerpts, solo repertoire, or technical etudes. Perform, discuss tips and ideas, and tour our facilities. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and prepare for successful auditions!
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
Register
Please contact Amanda Grigg (Head of Percussion) with further questions.
T: +61 8 8313 3666
E: amanda.grigg@adelaide.edu.au
JAZZ PERFORMANCE
Years 9–12
Explore your creativity through improvisation and jazz interpretation with our faculty of award-winning educators, composers and performers, including National Jazz Award Semi-Finalists Mark Ferguson (piano) and Alex Taylor (brass), National Jazz Award Winners James Muller (guitar) and Lauren Henderson (voice), Dr Lyndon Gray (bass), and Vashti Tyrell (saxophone), along with some of our award-winning current students.
The day is held in three parts – we encourage you to participate in all three sessions, but if you only have time for one session, come to Session 3 at midday.
Applications are now open for trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, flute, piano, guitar, bass, drums, vibraphone, violin and voice. If your instrument is not listed let us know and we just might find a way to have you involved!
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
REGISTER
Schedule
9.00–10.00am: Session 1 – Whole group workshop with all staff and students (Madley Rehearsal Studio)
Instruments not required – other than your hands and voices!
Students will listen to staff and current Elder Con students perform and demonstrate jazz concepts.
Students will participate in vocal jazz warm-ups, and staff will guide students through a short active listening session.
10.10–11.40am: Session 2 – Workshop session in smaller groups (Madley Rehearsal Studio)
Instruments required!
Depending on your experience we will place you in one of the following smaller group workshops, but please state your preference and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
a. Jazz Improvisation and small ensemble preparation workshop
If you haven't had a lot of experience in jazz then this is the workshop for you! We will explore how to interpret a melody, how to get started with improvisation and the roles of the jazz rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass).
b. Small jazz ensemble
If you have intermediate/advanced jazz skills then this is the session for you! You will have the opportunity to work in a small ensemble setting with other high school students and current Elder Conservatorium jazz students, mentored by one of our jazz staff members.
How will you know if you're up for this? Check out the attached lead sheet for 'The Jody Grind' by Horace Silver, and if you feel like you are ready to interpret and perform this piece in a small jazz ensemble setting, then join this session. You don't need to be an expert – you're just checking to see if these are concepts that you have started exploring!
The Jody Grind – Parts Download
c. Vocal jazz workshop
If you want to focus on developing your jazz vocal skills, please attend this workshop with our award-winning jazz vocal lecturer Lauren Henderson!
12.00–1.00pm: Session 3 – Interactive performance with all staff and students (Madley Rehearsal Studio)
All students together for a session which will include:
1. Interactive concert with our Elder Con jazz staff and students
2. Performance of tunes from some of the Day at the Con small ensembles
3. Performance of a tune by morning session jazz vocalists
Students are welcome to come as observers only, but this music is best experienced by playing it!
CREATIVE PRACTICE
Date: Saturday 24 August 2024
Time: 10.00am–2.30pm
Venue: Level 5 and Level 4 (Schulz 406), Schulz Building, The University of Adelaide
A warm welcome to high school students! Join our team of expert lecturers and teachers for an exciting day of workshops and demonstrations! The day begins with a tour of the facilities and a Q&A with our current staff. Throughout the day, sessions will be run by Associate Professor Luke Harrald, Stephen Whittington, Dr Dylan Crismani, Dr Daniel Pitman, and Dr Sebastian Tomczak, and include performances by our current Popular Music and Composition students, a studio recording workshop, a vintage synths demonstration, and an Ableton Live Workshop.
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
REGISTER
Registrations close at 1.00pm on Thursday 22 August 2024, or when session capacity is reached.
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 10.00–10.30am | Tour and Q&A (Luke Harrald and Stephen Whittington) | Level 5, Schulz Building, The University of Adelaide |
| 10.30–11.00am | Performances by Pop and Composition Students (Luke Harrald and Dylan Crismani) | Level 5, Schultz Building, The University of Adelaide |
| 11.00am–12.00pm | Vintage Synths and Electric Crystal Demonstration (Stephen Whittington and Dylan Crismani) | Level 5, Schulz Building, The University of Adelaide |
| 1.00–1.45pm | Studio Recording Session (Daniel Pitman) | Level 5, Schulz Building, The University of Adelaide |
| 1.45–2.30pm | Ableton Live Workshop (Sebastian Tomczak) | Level 4, Schulz 406, Schulz Building, The University of Adelaide |
MUSIC THEATRE
Love Music Theatre? So do we!
OBSERVE REHEARSAL – Be a fly on the wall in our rehearsal room, where students of the Bachelor of Music Theatre are preparing for our upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Watch Head of Music Theatre George Torbay AM direct the students with choreographer Zoe Kermond for this all-singing, all-dancing show.
DANCE CLASS – In Music Theatre, we use our bodies to help tell stories. Participate in a one-hour dance/movement class with Music Theatre Lecturer Joseph Simons. All dance levels/abilities are welcome.
ENSEMBLE SINGING – Sing out! Join Music Theatre lecturers Erin James and Peter Johns to learn how to sing together as one.
For participation in the dance class, please wear clothes you can move in, and either jazz dance shoes or sneakers. Don't forget your water bottle!
Attendance is FREE but registration is essential.
REGISTER
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 10.00–11.00am | Open rehearsal room – Jesus Christ Superstar | Exercise Studio, Union House 208, The University of Adelaide |
| 11.00–11.30am | Q+A with current students and staff | Exercise Studio, Union House 2018, The University of Adelaide |
| 11.30–12.00pm | Break | |
| 12.00–1.00pm | Group A: Dance Class / Group B: Ensemble Singing | Exercise Studio, Union House 208, and Lady Symon Building, The University of Adelaide |
| 1.00–2.00pm | Group A: Ensemble Singing / Group B: Dance Class | Exercise Studio, Union House 208, and Lady Symon Building, The University of Adelaide |
(Attendees will be split into Group A and Group B on the day.)
Last updated: Wednesday 21 August 2024