ANU School Of Music Announces New Head

Column: News | Date Published: Tuesday, 31 July 12 | Author: Ashley Thomson | 9 months, 3 weeks ago

In the wake of a damaging two-month onslaught of press over the massive cuts to the ANU School of Music, ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Young has announced that Doctor Peter Tregear will be taking over as Head of the School in mid-August. His predecessor, Professor Adrian Walter, stepped down from the position in early June, despite the fact his position was one of few still guaranteed and untouched in the wake of the cuts. “I look forward to what I believe is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for ANU to lead the nation in developing a truly innovative, attractive, and sustainable educational program for music within the nation’s leading research university,” said Dr Tregear. The School, which suffered the cuts as part of an attempt to mitigate its predicted $2.9 million deficit, has lost considerable regard, despite the fact its new curriculum will not be announced until early 2013. However, many already feel its potential for musical innovation and cultivation has been permanently incapacitated.

	Rock The Schools Call Out Local Bands: Rock the Schools is making the annual call out for the country’s best emerging bands to apply to be a part of the 2013 tour. For all young rockers out there, this is the chance to follow in the footsteps of other bands including Nine Sons of Dan, Van She and Cassette Kids to tour the country and visit a new school every day to perform your music for thousands of high school students. An awesome platform for any promising young act, Rock The Schools contracts up to four bands for the five-month program, with each group travelling for a total of four to six weeks, performing at a different school each day. The experience gained from the touring experience and daily shows is second to none, with bands coming off the program strengthened and tight. For more information on how to apply or to submit an application, visit www.rocktheschools.com.au/2013-band-applications/.

	Local Street Art In Unprecedented Showcase: Local artist Dale Newbery has assembled a collection of works by some of Canberra’s best street artists to be exhibited over two months at Soju Girl Gallery in the Melbourne Building, Northbourne Ave. Entitled Hung, the exhibition will bring together the heavyweights and the up and coming creatives of the Canberra street art scene. These artists are fixtures around Canberra’s alleyways, underpasses and stormwater drains but for the first time the public will be able to see them all in one place. All forms of modern street and urban art will be on display including graffiti, stencils, paste-ups and paintings. Artists on display include Jessmess, Haul, Gibbs, Walrus, Byrd, Swerfk, Zedar and more. Entry is free and Soju Girl will also have its restaurant and bar open Monday to Saturday. The exhibition runs Thursday August 2 to Sunday September 30.

	Gallery@BCS Calls For Visual Artists: Gallery@BCS, the gallery operating inside Belconnen Community Service Inc., is currently taking expressions of interest for exhibitions between January and June 2013. Focusing deliberately on local and emerging artists, Gallery@BCS is dedicated to showcasing artists needing or wanting a foot in the door. Artwork displays are afforded a minimum two weeks’ exposure. If you’d like to take advantage of the space you can download the application form at http://www.bcsact.com.au/gallerybcs. For more information, contact Ben Drysdale on (02) 6264 0267 or via email at ben.drysdale@bcsact.com.au. Email the completed form to Ben or return it in hard copy to the reception at Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Crt, Belconnen. Applications close Friday August 31.

	Guzman Y Gomez Free Burrito Day Postponed: Guzman y Gomez's Free Burrito Day has been postponed! The ultimate free burrito marathon, originally scheduled for Friday August 3, or 'tomorrow' in common parlance, will now take place Thursday August 16, 11am-8pm. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the restaurant taqueria is unable to open as scheduled on Friday August 3. The announcement has led newspeople everywhere to begin frantically brainstorming jokes about the work ethic of Mexicans that don't crossing racially reprehensible lines.

	TEDxCanberra Calls For Musicians: Since the initiation of the online idea-sharing network TED in 2006, various satellites to the central annual conference have sprung up around the world under the moniker TEDx. While keeping to the TED ethos, they’re able source speakers from wherever they see fit, including their local area. TEDxCanberra began operating here in 2010 and its third event will be taking place Saturday September 8 at The Playhouse, with 19 speakers scheduled to appear. The talks will take place in four blocks throughout the day and the organisers of the event have issued a call for musicians to appear and demonstrate their craft at the commencement of each of the four sections. In accordance with the TED vision, the successful musical applicants will employ any means to create unusual, innovative or unprecedented music. Four-piece drums, bass, lead and rhythm pop/rock is NOT what they're after. Anything else is in scope. It can be instrumental, jazz, blues, classical, choir, hip hop, DJing, anything. Be interesting. Be creative. They can't pay you; it's for the craft and the exposure. To apply, submit a one-minute YouTube, Facebook or Vimeo video to www.facebook.com/tedxcanberra. Tell them why you should be the house act and demo the kind of music you’d play in a given minute. If you go over a minute, you break the selection criteria. Go to!