THE UNIVERSITY

The Music Performance Unit is responsible for the production of professional and semi-professional concerts on campus. Its primary activities are the Australia Ensemble, resident at UNSW, and the choral program comprising the Collegium Musicum Choir and Burgundian Consort. The small team of the Music Performance Unit produces around 25 performances annually, based in the University’s Sir John Clancy Auditorium.

The Australia Ensemble, resident at UNSW, is Australia’s leading chamber music ensemble, and bases its six-concert subscription series at UNSW. In addition, the Australia Ensemble presents free lunch hour concerts and workshops at UNSW, performances for other organisations (such as Musica Viva Australia and the Sydney Mozart Society), and tours nationally and internationally. Founded in 1980, the Australia Ensemble celebrated its 25th anniversary season and 150th subscription concert in 2004. The seven core members of the Australia Ensemble are some of this country’s leading musicians, something that maintains the Ensemble’s position of eminence in chamber music in Australia.

The Collegium Musicum Choir, founded in 1975, typically involves around 100 singers in each program, and presents three concerts annually. Although the CMC comprises mostly undergraduate students, membership also includes staff, community members, postgraduates and alumni.

The concerts of the Collegium Musicum present extremely varied large choral-orchestral works, including oratorios, masses and cantatas – favourites have included Handel’s Messiah and Israel in Egypt, the Requiem of Mozart and Faure, Bach’s Mass in B minor, and works of Britten, Tippett, Haydn, Bernstein and Monteverdi. The professional orchestra for these performances is based around the members of the Australia Ensemble, and guest soloists include both established and emerging artists. The annual Christmas concert is always a festive treat, with communal carols, handbells, and a small Christmas gift for members of the audience.

The Burgundian Consort is UNSW’s chamber choir, and involves around 20 singers of a high standard. Repertoire is typically unaccompanied, and includes works from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary periods. The Burgundian Consort presents an evening recital in August each year, as well as lunch hour concerts, and taking part in performances of the Collegium Musicum. The Burgundian Consort also frequently performs for University functions and special events.

The University of New South Wales Orchestra

The Orchestra was formed in 1989. It is a full symphony orchestra made up of sixty to eighty students, staff and alumni. Colin Piper has conducted the Orchestra since its inception. Wind and percussion places are auditioned. The Orchestra rehearses weekly during Session and generally gives four concerts each year. It plays a wide variety of repertoire, from standard classics to new compositions by students. Occasionally it presents a Family Concert, which draws in children from schools in the surrounding community to sing with the Orchestra to an audience of parents and friends. The Orchestra regularly features some of the finest young musicians from UNSW as soloists.
The Orchestra is on the Web: UNSW Orchestra


UNSW Wind Band

The UNSW Wind Band is a symphonic wind band (or 'concert band'), consisting of around 50 woodwind, brass and percussion players. The conductor is Steven Hillinger. No audition is required to join. The band was formed in 1991 to provide a place for the many wind players attracted to the limited number of positions available in the UNSW Orchestra. The band quickly became an active independent entity, presenting regular concerts of its own and also in conjunction with the Orchestra. The band is invited to play at campus functions, such as University receptions and Open Day. Occasionally the band hosts concerts with touring bands from Australia and overseas. Band members are students, staff and alumni of UNSW.
The Wind Band is on the Web: UNSW Wind Band

 

 

 

The School of English, Media and Performing Arts at the University of New South Wales offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in Music and Music Education, which are designed to give students an in-depth insight into the theoretical and practical aspects of music whilst maintaining a flexibility that recognises students' different interests and backgrounds. Graduates of the School are presently employed in a variety of different fields where the discipline and skills necessary to study music are in demand.