Speeches
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Elder Conservatorium Circle Reception
Rod and I warmly welcome you to Government House in celebration of the newly established Elder Conservatorium Circle.
We do so with the particular pleasure of recently having been invited – and enthusiastically agreed - to become joint patrons of the Circle.
Through our attendance at concerts over the years, and the privilege of enjoying performances at State Dinners, it has been gratifying to witness young performers grow in confidence, hone their technical skills, and develop their interpretation.
It has also been a joy to see and hear other members of the conservatorium perform and, at times, excitingly, students and teachers together.
I am sure you will agree that music and musical education is a powerful agent of connection and creativity.
The transformative, uplifting power of music touches our spirit and is a catalyst for contemplation, inspiration, and enjoyment.
Since 1898, the Elder Conservatorium has held a pre-eminent position as the home of music education in South Australia.
As members of the Elder Conservatorium Circle, you are making a direct and valued contribution through your advocacy, engagement and support, to growing our State’s reputation for musical excellence.
To each of this year’s 33 members, Rod and say thank you for being such strong advocates and supporters of this much-loved institution.
The Circle can already point to creating several tangible benefits, including three new named scholarships set up by individuals donors; an endowed prize; and a general music scholarship fund.
Key staffing appointments have been made through philanthropy. And we will have the pleasure of hearing more from them shortly.
Yet the intangible is just as important: relationship building with the conservatory, the fellowship of like-minded people, the knowledge that people can shape opportunity.
The Elder Conservatorium has come a long way over the past 126 years.
From its foundations to provide classical music education it has grown to include jazz, popular music, composition, conducting, the Centre for Aboriginal studies in Music, sonic arts and now music theatre.
The Conservatorium continues to flourish under the leadership of Anna Goldsworthy and other staff.
With your support, Rod and I are confident it will continue to seize new opportunities and grow in new and exciting ways.