The University of Queensland and Queensland Symphony Orchestra partnership to play on

The partnership between The University of Queensland and Queensland Symphony Orchestra has been confirmed to continue throughout 2020. 

2020 marks the fifth year of the QSO-UQ partnership in the music and educational space. This year, the program involves almost 130 students, and over the past five years some 550 students have benefited. 

Queensland Symphony Orchestra Chief Executive Craig Whitehead said despite the challenges of 2020, he was thrilled to announce the continuation of this very important partnership. 

“2020 has presented significant challenges for both the arts and education. The QSO-UQ partnership has been reviewed to feature creative digital online orchestral training, group tutorials, student forums covering specialist topics and career development mentoring sessions and, when the time comes, these programs will also occur in real life. It’s a privilege to work with such a committed and innovative partner in UQ to make sure we continue educating our musicians of tomorrow.”

“We have been fortunate to be able to pivot quickly to the online learning space, to enable our student programs with UQ to continue, and of course having their commitment to the partnership has been extraordinary during this time.” 

“The resulting morphed online/real life program means students continue to receive valuable instruction on how to prepare for auditions from the State’s leading professional musicians. They are provided an exclusive opportunity to engage with QSO musicians on issues relevant to their future as musicians on topics such as performance anxiety and hearing protection, and they are being mentored across a range of performance skills while taking part in essential one-on-one sessions with QSO musicians.” 

The University of Queensland Head of School of Music Professor Liam Viney said the partnership between The University of Queensland School of Music and Queensland Symphony Orchestra reflected each organisations' commitment to the highest ideals of music making and music education. 

“Through a broad and integrated program of collaboration, students are mentored into the profession of orchestral performance by members of one of the world's great orchestras. Through cultivating the next generation of performing musicians, this partnership underlines a commitment to growing the light of musical knowledge and art shared by both UQ and the QSO.”