The University of Queensland’s School of Music celebrated its 1000th graduate from the Bachelor of Music (Honours) program this morning.
For decades, UQ Music has provided an expansive approach to music education in a broader ecosystem of university excellence.
It has a long tradition of graduating leaders in a range of music-related fields, with strong foundational and core music studies forming the basis for specialised training in elite performance, composition, musicology, education, music psychology and music technology.
This year, two dozen Bachelor of Music (Honours) students graduated across a range of music disciplines from a four-year program that annually offers over 50 courses and hosts nearly 50 concerts; including The Vice Chancellor’s Concert Series at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
Amongst the graduating cohort in 2018 are exceptionally high achieving candidates, including Amanda Pang (Piano), Sean Burke (Tuba) and Claire Weatherhead (Violin); all of whom have been offered places at the prestigious Australian Academy of Music (ANAM) in 2019.
Graduand Alison Paris–winner of the Ethel Osborne Prize in 2018–said her final year at UQ was filled with many opportunities and experiences.
“This year more than ever, I feel as though I was pushed to take every opportunity and make the most of my finite time at UQ.
“The staff were a constant source of encouragement for the past four years, and I owe my growth as a musician to them,” she said.
Some of this year’s graduates have completed the Bachelor of Music (Honours) as a dual degree with Science, Arts or Education. The latter produces students who graduate with an accredited secondary teaching qualification alongside their music credentials.
Music and Education dual degree student Iain Hunter said studying the Bachelor of Music (Honours) program at UQ had provided him with an incredibly broad range of learning opportunities.
“Its versatility meant I could experience music across a huge range of genres in performance, composition, and musicology,” he said.
“In fact, some the most interesting and valuable courses I took were music psychology subjects, which I have found invaluable to me as a musician and educator.”
The Bachelor of Music program was first offered in 1967 and its alumni are recognised nationally and internationally as performers, composers, conductors, musicologists and educators.
In recent years, the School has diversified into new specialisations including music technology, recording and music production, composition for film, and music psychology.
UQ Music’s alumni include successful portfolio career musicians, as well as stars that are known around the world.
Dami Im graduated from UQ’s piano program in the Bachelor of Music (Honours) before launching her international singing career. Triple Grammy Award-winner Tim Munro studied flute at UQ Music, graduating in 1999. Dane Lam is now Chief Conductor of the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra in China.
Kieran Welch–an example of the entrepreneurial spirit UQ Music graduates display–is co-director and co-founder of the national performance platform Dots and Loops, and said choosing a Bachelor of Music (Honours) at The University of Queensland was one of the best decisions he ever made.
“The teachers combine tremendous talent with a genuine passion for helping each student be the best they can be.
“I met a really special group of fellow students during my time at UQ, and many of these friends are now also some of my closest professional collaborators," he said.
