A musical gift

New collection gives Avondale access to quality resources

A gift worth thousands of dollars will give Avondale students access to resources from an academic honoured by his country for service to music education.

Dr Leonard Burtenshaw has donated 40 archive boxes of items from his library, such as musicology books, music scores, lecture notes, CDs and DVDs, to Avondale Conservatorium. The collection is “curated with fastidious attention to detail,” says director Dr Aleta King.

Leonard headed music education at Sydney Conservatorium for 20 years (1975-1995), examined for the Australian Music Examinations Board for almost 50 years, and conducted the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019.

Colleagues suggested the 90-year-old donate his collection to another university, the national library or the state library, “but Jenny, my daughter, said, ‘Why don’t you think about Avondale?’” Jennifer is connected to Avondale through an association with Aleta: both attend Kodály Music Education Institute of Australia intensives, Aleta as a lecturer and Jennifer as a student. But Leonard has a connection, too: as a piano and organ examiner for students at Avondale. “I thought the performances were of a good standard.” Aleta’s willingness to view and collect the collection also impressed. “I appreciated her coming to see it,” says Leonard. “She gets things done. I wish her well.”

Avondale Conservatorium will keep items in the collection together as a single unit, in keeping with Leonard’s wish. “I’m looking forward to seeing them properly used and cared for,” he says. Leonard hopes lecturers will use his “extensive” notes as the basis for introducing new concepts and students the scores for performing contemporary interpretations of the classics.

The Burtenshaw Collection “will add another dimension to our teaching and learning and even more quality and variety to our music library,” says Aleta. “It will be particularly helpful for students completing their independent research topic.”