Rewriting the Score, an inclusive music project in regional NSW, has attracted participation from a range of musicians from across Australia with personal experience of disability. The national residency program hosted by Orange Regional Conservatorium, in partnership with Accessible Arts will commence this month.
Accessible Arts presented Disability Access & Awareness training at the NSW Regional Conservatorium Events Conference held in Bathurst on 23 November 2010.
Lismore based music making collective Tra La La Blip brought a regional presence to the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney this month.
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Networking at music forum improving access to the Opera
Thirteen-year-old Charitha McMahon has a passion for classical music and recently attended a Sydney Symphony Orchestra rehearsal, his first ever experience of a live classical music performance.
The invitation came about when Opera Australia’s Education Manager, Frances Gordon met Mary McMahon, Charitha’s foster mother at the Accessible Arts Music Pathways Forum in April 2010.
Mary attended the forum due to a project she has initiated, to advocate for the programming of concerts by the various orchestras performing in Australia, specifically for people with disability.
Mary explains, “There are many people like Charitha, with intellectual and physical disabilities, who are unable to attend classical music concerts where absolute quiet is required during a performance and who might make a noise or move around.”
The project is in its infancy and when Frances Gordon learnt about Charitha, she offered to speak to music colleagues about creating an opportunity for him to experience his dream as soon as possible.
“Listening to the orchestra rehearsing selections from Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherezade and Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, among others was a truly wonderful experience and Charitha really enjoyed all the performance, including the stopping and starting, and now wants to be a conductor.”
With the support of Richard Gill OAM, music educator, conductor and Musical Director of Victorian Opera, and Andrew Ford, composer, writer and broadcaster, working towards concerts for people with disability continues.
To find out more about Mary McMahon's Access to the Opera Project email me.mcmahon@hotmail.com