Musical Ecologies – The Grainger Wind Symphony

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In Melbourne, the capital of the State of Victoria, there are a number of community concert bands, brass bands, symphony orchestras, community choirs, numerous small ensembles including jazz, rock, and world music groups. Some are in geographical locations around Melbourne, some are attached to City Councils or to churches and religious communities. Many perform or present themselves in public mainly in their local area. No doubt the same variety is in other capital cities of Australia.

A new publication Musical Ecologies: Instrumental Music Ensembles Around The World explores the role community music plays out around the world and how various instrumentally based music-making communities operate as ecologies that allow notions of social, political and cultural agency and identity/ies. From the Abstract for Musical Ecologies: instrumental Music Around the World ed. Leon de Bruin, Jane Southcott 1st edition 2022 London: Routledge also taylorfrancis.com

The Grainger Wind Symphony was selected as one community instrumental ensemble of focus and the research findings make up Chapter 10 Training and Retaining Traditions: The Grainger Wind Symphony by Jane Southcott and Leon de Bruin click here.

The Grainger Wind Symphony formed in 1985 with the Inaugural Music Director George Logie-Smith, an icon in the Melbourne music scene, particularly in community choral and instrumental music. Roland was on the founding committee holding the position of Associate Conductor. It was approved as an Incorporated Association under the Act legislated by the Victorian Government in 1986. At the time, the primary reason for seeking this level of formality in the organisation was to protect the organising committee members. As the Incorporated Associations Act was updated in 2014, there was event greater clarification of processes, amongst other, to ensure members rights were articulated. In addition, The GWS has a number of other policies that protect the individual members. They include privacy Policy, Child Safety, and Policies for Code of Conduct, in particular Australian Live Performance Industry Code of Practice to Prevent Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying. For more information about the GWS policies click here. These factors illustrate that The GWS was established as an ongoing community that clearly stated the purposes, goals and codes of conduct for all members.

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I taught Cate Blanchett how to conduct an orchestra – Natalie Murray Beale

published in The Age January 18, 2023 — 2.40pm

This article was a fascinating description of how a professional conductor trained a brilliant Aussie actor Cate Blanchett for her role as Lydia Tár in the movie Tár, just released in USA at the end of 2022. So what does an actor need to learn to be authentic in the performance of a Mahler Symphony with a top symphony orchestra? A fascinating article for all conductors to read.

I Taught Cate Blanchett How To Conduct

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New movie about Conductors – Tar

Tar starring Aussie actor Cate Blanchett has brought into public conversation the process of how a conductor releases a performance. I have enjoyed the reviews, interviews of Cate and the speech she gave when receiving an award in Florida in January 2023.

This film was released in USA in October 2022, but has not been released in Australia at the time of writing this post.

Two key observations Cate made about being a conductor and being involved in this project:

process and collaboration

Her summary of the film is “it just is”.

Review Cate’s own words through clicking on this link to Classic FM article ‘I didn’t base the character of Lydia Tár on anyone’ – Cate Blanchett in conversation with Classic FM 19th January 2023 – click here

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Butterfly Lovers

This is one of four famous and well known Chinese folk tales. Butterfly Lovers dates back to around 700AD when it was first written down. I have had the fortune to conduct the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto composed by two university students in 1959 by  He Zhanhao and Chen Gang. One of my performances was with the Carey Baptist Grammar School Symphony Orchestra and the other with The Grainger Wind Symphony.

On Thursday 13th October, I had the pleasure to experience a new version of this tale. The Victorian Opera staged The Butterfly Lovers to a score composed by their Artistic Director Richard Mills. I wrote a short review as part of a

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