Clarence Valley Conservatorium Term 2 Newsletter

APR. 2020 | VOL. 2

THE MEMORANDA CLARENCE VALLEY CONSERVATORIUM 8 VILLIERS STREET, GRAFTON (PO BOX 350, GRAFTON) EMAIL: CVCON@CVCON.NSW.EDU.AU

Term 2 2020 The entire world is going through unprecedented times right now, life is much different.

We thank you for your support during the last few weeks as we have worked hard to transition lessons to online.

Our tutors have done a fantastic job of making the transition work and we are developing ways to continue and expand our online offerings, with some group classes moving online in Term 2.

There are still a handful of lessons here at the Con and Term 2 lessons at the Conservatorium and online begin on Monday, 27 April and end on Friday, 3 July.

Contact us: Phone: 02 6643 3555 Email: cvcon@cvcon.nsw.edu.au Web: cvcon.nsw.edu.au

EXCITING NEWS FOR CVCON Stronger Country Communities Funds The Conservatorium is thrilled to have been successful in their application with a grant from the State Government's Stronger Country Communities Fund. Through this generous funding the Conservatorium will be able to undertake a much needed upgrade and modernise the facility so it can continue to be a leading provider in delivering quality music and drama education and public concerts.

In addition to the updating of the premises, the funds will also allow us to add to our instrument collection, providing the tools necessary to fostering a love of music and performance. We've included the release from Chris Gulaptis MP sharing the exciting news later in the newsletter.

Online Lessons Continue We have now transitioned to online lessons for the vast majority of our students who have individual one on one lessons and also students who have school group lessons taught by CVCon tutors, but pretty much have had to cancel everything else due to the current pandemic. Cancellations for this term include the Boom Bang Boogie Workshop, the next Visiting Artist Concert with Ian Cooper, the Chamber Music Festival, Addams Family performances, Kidzjam, all Enembles, Drama Groups, Forget Me Nots and our Choirs.

We are keeping our options open for now and waiting to see how term 2 progresses and are hoping to update you later on in the term with some of our innovative ideas including the possibility of an end of term online Performing Arts Night or our PAN's as they have come to be known.

Photos: CVCon Tutors pictured are Ryan Enns, Luke Gough, Greta Enns and Mel Smith.

CLARENCE VALLEY CONSERVATORIUM STARTS YEAR ON HIGH NOTE The Clarence Valley Conservatorium in Grafton is one of 12 projects to share in over $1.8 million in funding across the Clarence and Richmond Valley councils under the latest round of the Nationals in the NSW Government’s $400 million Stronger Country Communities fund, Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis has announced.

Mr Gulaptis said the purpose-built regional conservatorium, built in the 1980’s, has been successful in securing $119,233 under the Fund. “The Conservatorium has over 900 students coming through its doors on a weekly basis so there is a real need to upgrade and modernise the facility so it can continue to be a leading provider in delivering quality music and drama education and public concerts,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“Previous rounds of this program, delivered by the Nationals in Government and exclusive to regional NSW, have funded local projects across the Clarence and Richmond Valleys to the tune of over $5.5 million including upgrades to playgrounds, sporting and cultural assets. We are following through on our election commitment to dedicate half of the grants under the third round to projects with a particular focus on regional youth and I am thrilled the Conservatorium is one of those projects.

“The strength of regional communities is dependent on young people having the opportunity to thrive, while remaining at home in regional NSW and I am really excited about the projects that have received funding under this latest round. “We need to give more than lip service to young people and provide them the opportunity to be the best versions of themselves, while also supporting infrastructure and programs in the town they love. It is all about building the physical and social infrastructure of the future.”

Conservatorium Director Adam Wills said he was pleased to have been successful in their application under the Stronger Country Communities Fund. “The funds will allow us to continue to improve the Conservatorium’s spaces, updating the building for its use in the 21st century,” Mr Wills said.

It will allow us to make the visitor experience at the Conservatorium more comfortable and will work towards providing a sound-proof environment for music lessons.

“In addition to the updating of the premises, the funds will also allow us to add to our instrument collection – providing the tools necessary to fostering a love of music and performance.”

The $400 million Stronger Country Communities Fund is part of the NSW Government’s $1.7 billion Regional Growth Fund, which is being invested in local programs and infrastructure that improve the lives of people living in regional NSW.

Photo: CVCon Director Adam Wills, Chris Gulaptis MP and CVCon Chair Jennifer Worrell could be Grafton's newest musical hit.

CLARENCE VALLEY CONSERVATORIUM STARTS YEAR ON HIGH NOTE With the world living with the Coronavirus, one of the biggest impacted is the arts and live performance sectors. From New York to our own Clarence Valley we have seen mass cancellations of concerts, performances and events. It’s hard to believe that an industry as big as Broadway in New York has shut completely for an indefinite period of time. Something that has never happened. For reference, when the September 11 occurred, theatres in New York were closed for only 2 days.

But closer to home all our big Performing Arts venues have now closed, from QPAC in Brisbane to the Sydney Opera House. In the Clarence itself, we have seen many cancellations or postponement of events, the Clarence Valley Orchestra has cancelled their April concert and the Criterion Theatre has postponed their run of Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat. I am sure there are many more cancellations to come over the next few weeks and months.

So the Arts and Live Performance sectors will need your support in the next few weeks and months to ensure the survival of live performance and to ensure the continuation of a long history in the area.

Consider supporting the organisations now and into the future.