Conservatorium High School

Conservatorium High School
Location
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Coordinates	33°51′48″S 151°12′51″E / 33.86333°S 151.21417°E / -33.86333; 151.21417Coordinates: 33°51′48″S 151°12′51″E / 33.86333°S 151.21417°E / -33.86333; 151.21417
Information
Type	Publicly run and funded, co-educational, performing arts, secondary, day school
Motto	Latin: Fiat Lux ("Let there be Light")
Established	1918
Principal	Robert Curry
Enrolment	~192 (7–12)[1]
Colour(s)	Black and gold
Website	conservat-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

The Conservatorium High School (colloquially known as Con High), is a publicly funded, co-educational, creative and performing arts secondary day school specialising in music. It is owned and run by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training (DET), and prepares students for the Higher School Certificate in their final Year 12. The school is located within the Sydney Conservatorium of Music of the University of Sydney, close by to the Sydney Central Business District.

History

The School was established in 1918 by Henri Verbrugghen, foundation director of the Conservatorium.

Campus

Front western view of the Conservatorium

The Conservatorium High School is located in the Royal Botanic Gardens, overlooking Farm Cove, and is one of Sydney's historic sites.

Facilities

The facilities of the school include:

• Recording Microphones in Choral Assembly Hall
• Music computer laboratory
• Keyboard laboratory
• General computer laboratory
• Science laboratory
• Visual Arts and Design and Technology studio
• Student Independent Learning Centre (SILC)

Conservatorium of Music during Macquarie Night Lights, 2006

In addition, the School has access to venues such as:

• Choral Assembly Hall
• South and North Recital Halls
• Music Cafe
• Practice and Ensemble Rooms
• The Music Workshop
• Verbrugghen Hall

Library

The Conservatorium Library is one of Australia's finest public music libraries, run jointly by the University of Sydney and the Department of Education and Training. Conservatorium High School students have partial access to the library and the computer facilities.

Con secondary

The Conservatorium High School is staffed and administered by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training (DET). Instrumental tuition, the chamber Mmusic program and individual composition lessons are provided to the Con's secondary students by the tertiary staff (Sydney University lecturers and tutors).

In the course of their studies, students at the Conservatorium High are provided with many of the same benefits as the tertiary students, including free admission to Conservatorium concerts and master classes.

Recently, the Con has undergone many changes under the new principal Dr Robert Curry. Students wishing to audition for the Con high must now also sit the NSW Selective School tests.^{[citation needed]} The number of students accepted into year 7 in 2007 were 11 compared to a normal class of 20–30. In 2008, 15 students were selected but only 11 decided to stay at the Con High.^{[citation needed]}

Curriculum

Subjects offered for students in Years 7 – 10 include: Music, Science, English, History, Mathematics, Geography, Chinese, French, Visual Arts, Design and Technology, Personal Development and Health, Performance Workshop Program, and Physical Education and Sport.

Subjects offered to students in Years 11 – 12 include: Music 2, Music Extension, Music Performance Board Endorsed Course (Performance Workshop Program, Ensembles, Chamber Music and Choir, House Concerts), Ancient History, Modern History, History Extension, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Advanced, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, French (Continuers), Latin Continuers, Geography, German (Beginners), Mathematics General, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, and Visual Arts.

Other curriculum options are available through individual or group negotiation.

Co-curriculum

Concerts

Every year the High School holds concerts. These concerts often attract well-known and often world-renowned musicians to perform with the students.^{[citation needed]}

The most student orientated concerts are the House Concerts where the houses (Bach, Beethoven and Brahms) compete to win the award of best performance for the evening. Each of the houses have approximately 45 minutes and they are all organised by their house captains and the vice captains, without any help from any staff or teachers. The three other main concerts each year, apart from the House Concerts, are Open Day Concerts, the Annual Concerts and Orientation Day.

Parental involvement

The School has a Parents and Citizen's Association. The school encourages parental representation on curriculum, finance, welfare and school management committees, and in a variety of fund-raising activities. The P&C runs AMEB stalls at the Conservatorium on Saturday morning, a food and beverage service.

Enrolment

The potential of applicants, as well as level of attainment is considered, prior to enrolment. Students must pass the selective schools test to be enrolled. Auditions are held each year in July/August/September.

Fees and scholarships

The cost of individual tuition with teachers of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music is subsidised for students enrolling at the Conservatorium High School. Scholarships are available for special programs and purposes.

Alumni

Notable ex-students of the Conservatorium High School include:

• Jade MacRae
• Barry Tuckwell – French horn player
• Roger Woodward – Pianist
• Lin Cho-liang – Violinist
• Jack Cowell – Pianist and composer
• Jane Rutter – Flautist with a repertoire encompassing classical, jazz and pop
• Richard Tognetti – Violinist, composer and conductor
• Nigel Westlake – composer
• The Presets – Electronic music duo

The School has also educated individuals who have become philosophers, research scientists and inventors.^{[citation needed]}. The school's alumni association, the Con High Association of Old Students (CHAOS), aims to keep alumni in touch with one another, and informed about current developments through its newsletter, "This week at Con High". The Association puts on an annual series of convival concerts that raises funds for providing scholarships for students.

See also

• List of Government schools in New South Wales
• List of creative and performing arts high schools in New South Wales

References

1. ^ "Conservatorium High School". School Locator. New South Wales Public Schools. http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/?section=showRecord&code=8147. Retrieved 6 March 2008. 

External links

• Conservatorium High School website
• Conservatorium High School Parents and Citizens Association
• Sydney Morning Herald – Sacking Escalates Tensions at Music School