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Cobar High’s Sounds & Stories a finalist for music awards
from TCW 190723
Cobar High School’s Sounds & Stories, a collaboration by the school’s music teacher Laura Andrew and Sydney-based composer and artist Elizabeth Jigalin, is a finalist for the Excellence in Music Education category at this year’s Art Music Awards.
The annual Art Music Awards are presented by APRA AMCOS in conjunction with the Australian Music Centre (AMC) to recognise the exceptional talent and innovation of Australian musicians in the world of art music.
Art music covers activity across contemporary classical music, contemporary jazz and improvised music, experimental music and sound art.
The 2023 Art Music Awards will be taking place at Carriageworks, in Sydney next month.
In August 2022, Cobar High students engaged in a week-long workshop facilitated by Elizabeth and Laura to create a sound installation that celebrates the Cobar Silver Tank now the location of Georges Lentz’s permanent artwork, Cobar Sound Chapel.
The workshop was funded by Outback Arts Country Arts Support Program, supporting creativity in regional NSW.
“As part of the workshop, students recorded stories from five local community members, documenting their memories of the Silver Tank,” Laura said.
“Each storyteller brought their own unique and individual narrative, yet there was one common theme, the Silver Tank.
“This unassuming but necessary structure brought people together and highlighted the importance of community and connection.
“Inspired by the stories and their own musical sketches, students composed and performed original works that evoke the mood of each story told by local community members.” Students also created field recordings to be included in the sound installation, generating compelling sound effects to accompany the stories.
“The students’ work has been arranged into an 18 minute sound installation that celebrates community, creativity and history through sound.
“It is an honour for Cobar High School to be recognised at a national level for this “grassroots” project that was a success through the dedication of the students and generosity of the community,” Laura said.
