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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-19 Daily Xml
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MATTERS OF INTEREST

FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:23): I would like to bring to members' attention the Festival of Music education program, a joint program run by the South Australian Public Primary Schools' Music Society and the Department for Education and Child Development.

The Festival of Music program offers primary schools in Adelaide and over 10 regional areas such as Port Lincoln, Yorke Peninsula, Millicent and Renmark, just to name a few, the opportunity to be involved in reaching out for excellence. The opportunity to be involved in this program not only teaches students about Australian musical icons, but supports the growth of an individual to strive for personal excellence, whether it be in a choir, an orchestra, dance or drama troupes, or in being a compere, a soloist or assisting artists. It teaches students that everyone has a role or a part to play in bringing a production together.

Prior to 1936, the annual concerts were held in Adelaide's Exhibition Centre, changing locations to the Centennial Hall in 1939, until this building was taken over by the military. With the loss of this performance venue, the concerts were cut due to the war, until 1949 when the concerts resumed.

From 1951 to 1973, concerts were held at the Adelaide Town Hall and, in 1974, the festival moved to the then newly built and bigger location of the Festival Theatre, where it still resides today. This year marks the 117th series and the 121st year since its inception.

The Festival of Music program reaches out to over 23,000 primary schoolchildren annually, has over 5,500 students participate in the Adelaide series alone, has more than 350 schools associated with the program, and involves over 1,000 teachers and more than 150 volunteers.

From 1985, foyer performances have been held to offer extra opportunities for additional performances from public school instrument groups, bands and choirs. The festival recognises the importance of providing South Australian youth the opportunity to be a part of this program. Participation helps youth development and educates students in musical heritage, coordination, self-expression, building self-confidence and working with others. Youth development in music is also imperative in helping the South Australian music industry grow into the future.

To celebrate Australian composers and writers, the Festival of Music features commissioned and popular works each year. This year the program is based on Phil Cummings' novel Danny Allen was Here, first published in 1989, with featured music from John Schumann's group, Redgum, and choreography by Patrick Lim who has performed with the Australian Ballet, State Opera and State Theatre Company of South Australia.

This school-based music education program finishes on a high with performances at the Adelaide Festival Centre and in 10 regional centres. A 12-concert series is held at the Festival Music Centre every September, with regional festivals at various locations in South Australia from July through to November. The event can boast three orchestras and three performance troupes, with more than 40 outstanding students trained as comperes each year. Students have to pass auditions to be involved in one of the three orchestras and commence practising once a week.

Such is the success of the festival that it has been used as a model for similar programs in both independent and Catholic sector schools in South Australia as well as in other states such as Western Australia. Let me point out, in closing, that I acknowledge the Festival of Music's website and historic material from the thesis Thousand Voice Choir written by Helen Marie Pietsch in 2009. I conclude this matter of interest by saying that the Festival of Music program is an excellent program, a program that interests youth as well as progressing music development in South Australia. It is important that we recognise this aspect of South Australian history and continue to support the local music industry.

Time expired.

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