Conservatorium High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008) |
| Conservatorium High School | |
|---|---|
| Fiat Lux (Latin:"Let there be Light") |
|
| Established | 1918 |
| School type | Public, Co-educational, Performing Arts, Secondary, Day school |
| Principal/ Headmaster |
Dr. Robert Curry |
| Location | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia  |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Campus | Urban |
| Enrolment | ~192 (7-12)[1] |
| School colours | Black and Gold |
| Homepage | conservat-h.schools.nsw.edu.au |
The Conservatorium High School (The Con or Con High), is a public, co-educational, creative and performing arts, secondary, day school, located in the central business district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
It is the State's only selective music school,[citation needed] and was established within the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1918, to educate teenagers with musical talent. Through its school-based programs and its collaboration with the University of Sydney, the School offers students experience and training in all aspects of music, along with a broadly based secondary education. Unlike other music conservatorys in Australia, the school has always comprised both a secondary and a tertiary arm.
The Conservatorium High School is a school of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training (DET), and prepares students for the School Certificate (Year 10), and the Higher School Certificate (Year 12).
Contents |
[edit] History
The Conservatorium High School was established in 1918 by Henri Verbrugghen, foundation director of the Conservatorium. Since 1990, the tertiary arm has been under the administrative control of the University of Sydney.
[edit] Campus
The Conservatorium High School is located in the Royal Botanic Gardens, overlooking Farm Cove, and is one of Sydney's historic sites.
The most notable part of the school is the turreted sandstone structure that was designed by the convict architect, Francis Greenway, to serve as vice-regal stables for Government House, which is located to its north. Extensive redevelopment in the late 1990s has transformed the site.
[edit] Facilities
Some of the facilities of the school include:
- Music recording studio
- Music computer laboratory
- Keyboard laboratory
- General computer laboratory
- Science laboratory
- Visual Arts and Design and Technology studio
- Student Independent Learning Centre (SILC)
In addition, the School has access to venues such as:
- Choral Assembly Hall
- East and West Recital Halls
- Music Cafe
- Practice and Ensemble Rooms
- The Music Workshop
- Verbrugghen Hall
[edit] 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 for all citizens of NSW. Conservatorium High School students have full access to resources and borrowing privileges.
[edit] Con secondary
The Conservatorium High School, the Con's secondary arm, is staffed and administered by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training (DET). Instrumental tuition, the Chamber Music program and individual composition lessons, however, 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 work with some of Sydney's most notable musicians.[citation needed] They are provided with many of the same benefits as the tertiary students, including free admission to Conservatorium concerts and master classes.
[edit] Curriculum
Subjects offered for students in Years 7 - 10 include: Music, Science, English, History, Mathematics, Geography, Latin, 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, Legal Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Advanced, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, French (Continuers), Latin Continuers, Geography, German (Beginners), Information Processes and Technology, Mathematics General, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, and Visual Arts.
Other curriculum options are available through individual or group negotiation.
[edit] Co-curriculum
Swimming and Athletic Carnivals are held each year.
[edit] 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 30 minutes and they are all organised by their house captains and the vice captains, without any help from any staff or teachers. The 3 other main concerts each year, apart from the House Concerts, are Open Day Concerts, the Annual Concerts and Orientation Day.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Enrollment
The potential of applicants, as well as level of attainment is considered, prior to enrollment. Auditions are held each year in July/August, with late auditions held in November.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Alumni
Notable ex-students of the Conservatorium High School include:
- Barry Tuckwell - French horn player
- Roger Woodward - Pianist
- Jane Rutter - Flautist with a repertoire encompassing classical, jazz and pop
- Richard Tognetti - Violinist, composer and conductor
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, The Score. The Association puts on an annual series of convival concerts that raises funds for providing scholarships for students.
[edit] See also
- List of Government schools in New South Wales
- List of creative and performing arts high schools in New South Wales
[edit] References
- ^ Conservatorium High School. School Locator. New South Wales Public Schools. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
