Conservatorium coming to Avondale

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Music program rebrands

Avondale College of Higher Education will acknowledge the quality of its students by launching a rebranding of its music program at Homecoming this year.

New Avondale Conservatorium director Aleta King with Master of Arts (Research) student Dell Lawrence and casual academic Melissa Rogers.
Credit: Colin Chuang.

The Homecoming concert, War and Peace, a performance of Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, will be the first presented by the Avondale Conservatorium.

“Music has played a prominent role in campus life and continues to support the profile of Avondale,” says music strand convenor Aleta King, the director of the conservatorium. “The Avondale Conservatorium will build on this profile.”

The arts has been part of the curriculum at Avondale since 1897, the year of its founding. The first teacher, Herbert Lacey, studied classical music at Battle Creek College (Michigan, USA). The music program has continued to grow, with Avondale introducing a music major in arts in 2001.

But this emphasis on study does not adequately describe the nature of the music program, says Aleta. She is referring to events such as the Avondale Concert Series, which includes the meditative and reflective music program, Evensong, and to last year’s Homecoming concert, Music for Royal Occasions, which filled Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church. “The name, Avondale Conservatorium, is more inclusive and emphasises the cohesiveness of our program.”

War and Peace will include a dedication ceremony for the conservatorium. It will also feature Avondale Chamber Orchestra, which will combine with Dr Lyell Heise’s Institute of Worship Orchestra, and vocal ensembles Avondale Singers and The Promise. The two newest ensembles, Avondale Jazz Ensemble and Avondale Guitar Ensemble, will provide support. The concert is free although a freewill offering will be collected.

War and Peace, Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church, Saturday, August 24, 2013, 7.00 PM