History of the School of Music-Conservatorium

From humble beginnings in 1965, the School of Music – Conservatorium has grown into a major music school of international standing that continues to change and adapt to contemporary needs in tertiary music education.

The History of the School comprises three phases.

Phase 1: 1965–1989

Under its head Professor Trevor Jones, the department concentrated on teaching and researching musicology and ethnomusicology (especially Indigenous Australian, Southeast Asian and South Asian music).

Staff members including Professor Jones, Dr Stephen Wild, Dr Alice Moyle, Dr Margaret Kartomi and Dr Reis Flora established the School’s international research profile. The Department also enrolled an increasing number of postgraduate students.

Phase 2: 1989–2001

Under its new head, Professor Margaret Kartomi, the Department expanded to teach and research music performance and composition as well as musicology and ethnomusicology. Research staff were appointed and the number of postgraduate students rose to 60.

A new Bachelor of Music degree (from 1993) and double degree programs were established: Music/Arts, Music/Commerce, Music/Education, Music/Law and Music/Performing Arts.

The staff's continuing international reputation in Asian (especially Southeast and South Asian) music research was complemented by emerging research strengths in historical musicology, popular music studies and composition.

From 1994, the Australian Archive of Jewish Music was established as a joint venture between the School of Music and the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation.

From 1995 the university established the Monash Arts Precinct on the Clayton campus with an expanded suite of fine concert and theatre venues in which to promote its musical and other performing arts activities.

As the Precinct developed, funding was found to create the Department's new home in the Performing Arts Centre (1995) which facilitated many more performance opportunities.

Phase 3: mid 2001–2008

Under heads Peter Handsworth and then Associate Professor Craig De Wilde, the Bachelor of Music and double degree courses introduced instrumental and vocal pedagogy and professional practice, and the Bachelor of Music Composition stream together with the PhD in Composition admitted its first candidates.

The number of performance and academic staff grew to accommodate changes in curriculum and research growth areas. Research-active staff and students continue to publish in Asian, Jewish and Australian music; and the School’s Archive of Asian and Australian Music (run by Professor Kartomi and archivist/researcher Bronia Kornhauser) continues to attract international attention.

In 2006, the Vice-Chancellor established the Monash University Academy of Performing Arts with oboist and conductor Mr Jeffrey Crellin appointed Artist Director.

The inaugural Music in the Round festival was held in September 2007 and has become an annual fixture on Melbourne’s music scene.

In 2008 the discipline of Ethnomusicology was identified as one of the University’s key research strengths.

We also commenced a School Newsletter as means of keeping students, staff and the music community up to date with our activities.

... and in 2009

We have recently introduced a new sequence in the Bachelor of Music degree so it is now possible to major in ethnomusicology or musicology.

Plans are underway to introduce an exciting and unique PhD program in performance.

Future of the Music School

We will continue to do what we do best:

• Provide one of the most dynamic and wide-ranging undergraduate music programs in Australia.
• Offer a stimulating research environment for our postgraduate students and researchers.
• Continue to develop our curriculum to reflect the needs of our students and their employers.