Page 2286 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 9 May 2012
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In addition to the important role played by the current teaching staff of the orchestra, a considerable proportion of orchestra members are past School of Music staff and students. The CSO has grown in quality and the number of performances in recent years and this is due in no small part to the dedication and professionalism of the close links with the School of Music.
The CSO not only provides a regular high quality concert season for the committed audience of Canberra but provides a number of outreach and community activities. Over the last two years with the support of the ACT government the CSO has expanded its program to include an annual free concert as part of the Canberra Festival. Music stimulates the mind, body and spirit, and it builds social capital and enriches entire communities, provides important avenues for self-expression and is the universal language enhancing the quality of life for audiences and musicians alike.
Recently the ANU announced its intention to make significant changes to the ANU Bachelor of Music for the start of 2013. The ANU noted that these changes will encourage an innovative and flexible program of study that is more connected with the community and will offer student choice. It is hardly surprising that this announcement has raised a level of commentary and concern across the community.
The government understands that the ANU’s actions result from fiscal constraints and changes in the delivery of tertiary music education being experienced nationally and internationally. As noted by the ANU itself, they will result in staff reductions and changes to the academic programs currently on offer. The ANU intends to consult with local music organisations in seeking feedback on the proposed curriculum changes. I am pleased to see that the ANU is committed to providing existing students with the option of completing their current degree courses.
I need to better understand the impact that these changes will have on the support the government provides through the community outreach program and our direct support to the CSO. Next week I will be meeting the ANU and community groups to better understand what the impacts could be and to ensure stability for our community outreach programs and support for the CSO.
The ACT government—this goes to the revised amendment that has been circulated—provides $1.4 million per year to the ANU to support community outreach activities through the School of Music and the School of Art. The majority of this funding is provided to the School of Music to support the centre for music outreach, responsible for the delivery of a suite of community outreach programs.
There is also a provision of $200,000 annually to ACT arts organisations, including the CSO, to assist with costs associated with the hire of Llewellyn Hall. There is no doubt that the ANU School of Music plays a valuable and important role in providing young Canberrans with access to arts-enhanced programs within the schools at all levels through the centre for music outreach.
Research shows that music education in schools can positively enhance the learning environment, and there is evidence that suggests that children engaged in music
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