Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music unveils plans for Parramatta move

5 hours ago 4

After more than a century on Macquarie Street, one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious music schools is setting up shop in Sydney’s second CBD, pitching music education for a new generation of DJs, film and video soundtrack composers, garage bands and songwriters.

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, established by Belgian conductor and violinist Henri Verbrugghen in 1915 and known affectionately as The Con, will announce on Friday plans to open a recording studio and auditorium in Parramatta as part of a new $30 million teaching and research facility.

Bea Chaston, vocals, Imogen Hamer, guitar and keyboards, Peter Atzemis, bass guitar and Greek bouzouki, Max Mollica, drums.

The teaching space, an addition to its castellated heritage home in the Royal Botanic Garden, is due to open in August 2026 and support up to 180 students by its fourth educational year.

Live music concerts will be staged in its 60-seat performance auditorium. Outside of teaching hours, local artists and community will be able to utilise the Dolby-Atmos recording studio and music practice facilities.

“It’s for students doing our bachelor of music degree, and that comprises contemporary music students who are singer-songwriters and also [studying] composition for creative industries which is film music and gaming and all those things that require music to be made for media,” said Anna Reid, the conservatorium’s dean.

“Then there is digital music in media which is all those hardcore boffins that really like to compose music using electronics. It’s to make a contemporary offering rather than being a castle on the hill.”

The Con’s second campus represents a breakthrough moment for music education in one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most culturally diverse regions.

Western Sydney Philharmonic (WSP) this month found a new permanent rehearsal, training and concert home at Western Sydney University’s Sir Ian & Nancy Turbott Auditorium, which was rebuilt after fire.

The orchestra partnership aims to strengthen music education and the professional standard pipeline of talent while providing a much-needed permanent base for the orchestra’s rehearsals, training and concerts.

The WSP was launched in 2022 under the patronage of ABC chair Kim Williams. Without a home, it was like planning a football team without a stadium, co-founder Max Holzner said.

Violinists Max Holzner and Kristian Winther at Old Government House in Parramatta.

“Having a permanent base at the Turbott changes everything for our musicians,” he said. “It anchors a proper orchestral training ecosystem where students can learn, rehearse, perform and collaborate with university staff and creative partners while also opening the doors for the public to experience high-level music-making locally.”

Arts Minister John Graham said The Con at Parramatta would support the development of new voices, new stories and new audiences.

“And once the Metro West is completed, we no doubt will see students from across Sydney choosing to study in Parramatta, one of the most vibrant and exciting parts of our city,” he said.

Reid said two-thirds of The Con’s students studying the contemporary music program come from the area, and the plan was to tap into surrounding schools offering entry-level HSC music courses.

Demand was high already for these speciality areas of contemporary music study. “At the moment, we’ve been making ends meet,” Reid said. “It’s catering for a future looking generation of music artists, and they live in the greatest area of Sydney.”

Vice Chancellor of University of Sydney Mark Scott said the investment reflected the university’s commitment to supporting the arts at a challenging time for music education in Australia. “Music matters, and we’re committed to supporting the next generation of artists and educators.”

University of Sydney modelling estimates the new campus will contribute $164 million to gross state product over 10 years and generate 400 full-time equivalent jobs across the state.

In its first decade of operation, up to 590 additional paid music graduates are expected to enter the arts sector, in roles ranging from performers to producers, educators, sound engineers and arts administrators.

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