ANU School of Music – changes cause concern

Recent changes to the ANU School of Music in Canberra have created a dismayed buzz in the Australian jazz and improvised music community. We’ll keep you posted, but here’s some information and a petition…

Update 14 May 2012!

Read this ABC Local news item from 666 ABC Canberra www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/05/14/3502217.htm

ANU School of Music announcement – press conference

The press conference video on the ANU School of Music website: music.anu.edu.au/news/proposed-changes-anu-school-music-bachelor-music-degree

Opinion piece in Canberra’s City News

by Lucian McGuiness (@loosemacg) – trombonist, graduate of ANU

‘Say goodbye to School of Music’s teaching elite’: citynews.com.au/2012/arts-entertainment/music/opinion-say-goodbye-to-soms-teaching-elite

Petition

There’s a petition doing the rounds. The ‘Save the School of Music Team’ says: ‘If we reach 15 000 signatures we will be able to table the petition in Federal Parliament! But we need your help to reach this target! Please try to think of at least one other person you know who cares about music and share this petition with them:

http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/savetheanuschoolofmusic-1

Events

Protest Jam : Monday 14th May, 12pm-2pm : Union Court, ANU

This event will feature high quality musical performances at various locations around the ANU campus between 12pm-1pm. At 1pm there will be rally with some short speeches and a march(ing band!) to Chancelry. We need as many people as possible to come to Union Court at 1pm to show Ian Young how much ANU and Canberra care about music.

For more information please see: https://www.facebook.com/events/404334596268196/

Concert to Celebrate the ANU School of Music : 7:30pm Tuesday 15 May : Llewellyn Hall ANU

In a united effort to stand against the proposed changes to the ANU School of Music, staff and students will be performing to raise awareness about what the community of Canberra will potentially lose if the re-structuring goes ahead. Many internationally acclaimed classical and jazz artists will be performing as well as some of the top graduate students. If you love music and believe that the ANU School of Music is an essential component of the social and cultural health and wellbeing of Canberra, please come along to this event and show your support.

For more information please see: https://www.facebook.com/events/421916184500143/