Kodály National Conference, 26 – 29 September, All Hallows School, Brisbane

Theme: Shared Identities: I am, you are, we are…..

www.kodalynationalconference.org.au

Come and join us at the historic All Hallows School.  The venue is centrally located in Brisbane and easily accessible by local bus, train and ferry services.  The venue is on the edge of Fortitude Valley renowned for its restaurants while also in walking distance of the picturesque Riverwalk and all the cafés and dining opportunities there.

INTERNATIONAL PRESENTERS

Three international presenters join us for the conference to share their wealth of experience and expertise from around the globe.

Lucinda Geoghegan graduated in music from the University of Edinburgh in 1982, completed a postgraduate teaching qualification at Moray House College of Education and trained with the Kodály Institute of Britain where she gained an Advanced Diploma in musicianship with Distinction. She worked as a secondary music teacher in Edinburgh before deciding to specialise in Primary and Early Years Music Education. She was also a member of staff with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus for 16 years and was Director of the NYCoS West Lothian Choir for 8 years.

Dr. habil. László Norbert Nemes, professor of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest and director of the International Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy holds a doctoral degree in choral conducting and a habilitation certification from the Liszt Academy of Music. At the Liszt Academy and the Kodály Institute, Dr. Nemes lectures in Kodály’s educational philosophy, teaching methods, solfege, music theory, and conducts the choral ensemble formed from students of the Kodály Institute.

Georgia A. Newlin, DMA is Coordinator of Music Education at Adelphi University as well as the founder and director of the AU Vocal Ensemble. She has taught in early childhood and public school music positions for fifteen years and at the collegiate level for twelve. Currently, Dr. Newlin is called upon as a conductor for elementary, middle, and high school choral festivals. She is a master teacher for the Summer Kodály Institute at Indiana University, University of Hawai’i Kodály Levels, and the Kodály Institute at James Madison University.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Lucinda, Lazlo and Georgia will be joined by a wonderful collection of talented and experienced presenters from throughout the country to present workshops, focussed methodology sessions and research papers.  There will be no less than seven electives for you to choose from in each session.  Ten levels of Musicianship will offer something for all levels of experience and Methodology sessions catering specifically for Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and Choral teaching will occur every day and be interwoven throughout the timetable so that you can elect to attend multiple Methodology sessions in a single day. This initiative will cater for teachers who work across multiple year levels or in multiple settings.

A CHOICE OF CHORAL EXPERIENCE

A special feature of this conference will be a choice of choir for everyday singing. Delegates can select either a community sing or chamber choir. The Community Sing is for people looking for rehearsal ideas, repertoire, variety and a different experience each day. Each session will showcase a different conductor’s expertise. Participants will experience different styles and rehearsal techniques from some Queensland’s leading conductors. This strand is ALSO the ideal choice for delegates who are not attending the entire conference as each day is a stand-alone presentation.

Alternatively, the Chamber choir with Dr László Nemes will focus on a set of more advanced repertoire with the aim of polishing some of these works to performance standard.  This group comprise part of the conference closing on Thursday afternoon.  This strand is reserved for delegates registered for all four days of the conference.

NETWORK AND SOCIALISE

Replacing the standard conference dinner is a SOIREE evening.  This will be held on the Monday on the All Hallows lawns overlooking the magnificent Story Bridge, this is being sponsored by Musica Viva.  Included in your registration, this informal event features delicious canapés, a complimentary drink and music by “Best of Brass”.  This is a great opportunity to meet other teachers, mingle and network.

On the Tuesday evening Fine & Clear Productions have organised a special screening of the movie ‘When we sing…’  at the nearby Barracks Theatre. This movie is a joyful exploration of Zoltan Kodaly’s revolutionary approach to unlocking musicality in teachers and their students, choir leaders and choristers through the work of Australian Educator Dr James Cuskelly.  CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

LISTEN TO BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

Concerts are again a feature of this conference with local and visiting choir providing daily lunchtime concerts.  On Wednesday evening a spectacular Gala concert will be held at the beautiful St John’s Cathedral.  This event is complimentary for conference delegates.  It will feature quality Children’s and community choirs from across Brisbane, as well as Brisbane Bells and soloist Judit Molnar.

EXPERIENCE WORLD PREMIERE CHORAL PIECES

For this conference the Queensland committee has commissioned two choral works from local Brisbane composers, Timothy Sherlock and William Brown.  Both pieces speak to the theme of the conference and will be workshopped at the daily choral sessions and premiered at the closing ceremony.

From Timothy Sherlock comes an inspirational piece with a musical theatre/pop feel. Aimed at secondary choirs it can be sung in unison, 2-part or 3 part with piano accompaniment.

Here are sample lyrics from the chorus of this work.

We are the future, inspired by the past,
Living in the present in a world that’s changing fast.
The gift of the generations is the wisdom we share.
We are the future, you and me.

William Brown has written, for primary school choirs Everybody needs.  This piece also features flexible voicing to suit a variety of choir’s experiences and abilities. It’s full of flowing lyricism and a message that places music in our hierarchy of human needs.

Conference delegates will be given the opportunity to experience these works and have access to special conference prices should they wish to purchase these for their schools.

ONE STOP SHOPPING

And not to be forgotten is the trade area where participants can enjoy ‘One Stop Shopping!’ We also thank our major sponsor Tour Time, at the time of printing the confirmed traders are:

Costumes Without Drama, Devirra Group, Ellaways, He Bi Designs, Holy Names University, Mark O’Leary Publishing, Meri’s Music School, My Mini Music Books, Musica Viva, Rondofile, Sound Thinking Australia, Take Note Music and Tour Time

MORE INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS

To ensure you don’t miss this year’s National Conference register before the 19th September.We cannot guarantee registration after this date. The website has lots of information about the program as well as general information for attendees. Go to www.kodalynationalconference.org.au or contact the conference office on Phone: 03 9254 1035 or Email: kmeia2016@gmail.com