Conservatorium of Music
Creating the future leaders of the arts community
As one of Australia's leading music schools in one of the world's leading universities, the UWA Conservatorium of Music transforms individuals to release their full creative potential.
Graduates of the UWA Conservatorium of Music have gone on to postgraduate study at national and international centres of music excellence. They perform in every major orchestra in Australia and as chamber musicians and soloists around the world. They inspire the next generation of musicians in classrooms across Australia and work in a wide range of arts organisations.
Each year, we present a vibrant program of concerts and events that showcase our young emerging artists and the finest musical talent locally, nationally and internationally.
Ranked in the world top 100 for Performing Arts (QS 2020)
Producing world-class graduates for 50+ years
Whether your aspiration is a life in music or music in your life, we dare you to play on our stage.Professor Alan Lourens, Head of Conservatorium
Apply now for the Master of Music (Orchestral Performance)
The UWA Conservatorium of Music and West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) have a unique master’s course, offering participants industry experience through interaction with a professional orchestra as well as the opportunity to be mentored by some of Australia’s finest musicians and researchers.
The course will provide:
- Practical orchestral experiences in a variety of ensembles
- One-to-one mentoring sessions with WASO Musicians
- Selection of mainstage programs with varying leaders, conductors, repertoire and performance contexts
- Mock auditions with feedback
- Dynamic research training and support in a community of thriving scholars and music practitioners
Our courses
Concerts and events
The Conservatorium of Music is home to more than 200 events, free and ticketed, each calendar year. We are delighted to bring you a diverse range of events that showcase amazing work from students, staff and industry professionals, as well as some of Australia’s leading music organisations, community groups and schools.
Auditions for 2023
- Sunday 11 September
- Monday 21 November
UWA’s flexible, innovative course structure gives you the opportunity to tailor your study pathway and achieve your unique goals.
Specialise in performance, composition, musicology, creative music technology or electronic music – or you can choose to combine music with other study areas, giving many choices of career.
Performance
We place performance at the heart of what we do, staging more classical performances than any other Western Australian tertiary institution. Students can expect to participate in regular performances, cover a range of repertoire and will benefit from staff who are actively engaged in music making at the highest level.
Study your passion with electives and minors
An exciting feature of our courses is the opportunity to take electives and minors. These provide knowledge beyond the fields in which you choose to specialise. The Conservatorium of Music offers a number of stimulating and enjoyable electives that will accrue credit towards your degree. Whether or not you have studied music at secondary level, or can read music, you can enrich your degree by including music units in your study.
Junior Music School
The UWA Conservatorium of Music’s Junior Music School nurtures your child's creative potential through the magic of music.
We believe all children are musical. The extent to which musical ability develops, however, depends greatly on the input children receive in very early childhood.
Our program is designed for children aged 18 months to 12 years. It is focused on nurturing your child's musical potential in a stimulating and rich musical environment, supporting you and your family in developing and maintaining a lifelong love of music.
Junior Music School employs highly skilled music teachers from diverse musical backgrounds. This ensures our program is based on the best and most recent research, and a supportive and lively university music community.
Community programs
- Schools outreach
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The UWA Conservatorium of Music is committed to supporting the continued development of young musicians in schools.
We warmly welcome groups form both primary and secondary schools to attend our concerts and are pleased to be able to offer free tickets for these groups to any of our in-house performances.
We can arrange outreach activities at UWA (such as access to open rehearsals, presentations or workshops to coincide with concerts) or where available, we can arrange for our staff and students to visit your school to perform and provide additional support (including professional development opportunities).
To discuss in further detail, contact the Concerts and Outreach Coordinator.
- Accelerate! Strings
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UWA Elite Performance Program
Accelerate! is UWA's new elite performance training program designed for string players and pianists in years 10–12, who are looking to take their playing to the next level!
Participants will have the opportunity to work closely with UWA staff including Head of Strings Suzanne Wijsman, Shaun Lee-Chen (Concertmaster of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra), Head of Keyboard Studies Graeme Gilling and celebrated fortepianist Cecilia Sun.
The program will include a wide-range of practical activities including workshops and masterclasses where participants will receive expert individualised input on performance, performance skills and general musicianship. Participants will have the opportunity to perform in the Accelerate! Showcase and will also be offered free tickets to a number of Conservatorium of Music performances.
Places are strictly limited and entry is via audition. Full scholarships are provided so there is no cost to participants.
Who is the program for?The program is intended for string (violin, viola, cello and double bass) students in years 10–12, who are currently performing at AMEB Grade 7 or above (or equivalent). The program is ideal for those undertaking WACE/ATAR Music, although enrolment in those programs is not essential.
Contact Pip White for further information.
- Accelerate! Guitars
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UWA Elite Performance Program
Accelerate! Guitars is UWA's elite performance training program designed for classical guitarists in Years 10–12 who are looking to take their playing to the next level!
Participants will have the opportunity to work closely with Head of Guitar Dr Jonathan Fitzgerald, as well as some very special guests!
The program includes a wide-range of practical activities including workshops and masterclasses where participants will receive expert individualised input on their current repertoire, and hone their ensemble skills while rehearsing and performing with the UWA Conservatorium Guitar Ensemble.
The program will culminate in a joint performance with current UWA students, presenting the Australian premiere of Terry Riley’s exciting ensemble work Y Bolanzero, in addition to a variety of solo and chamber works for guitar.
Places are strictly limited and entry is via audition. Full scholarships are provided so there is no cost to participants.Who is the program for?
The program is suited to classical guitar students in Years 10–12, who are currently performing at AMEB Grade 7 or above (or equivalent). The program is ideal for those undertaking WACE/ATAR Music, although enrolment in those programs is not essential.
Application deadline: Friday 28 June
Auditions: Monday 8 July (3-5pm)
Session Dates: Fridays 4.30-6.30pm (16 Aug, 23 Aug, 30 Aug, 6 Sept)
Concert: Thursday 12 Sept 7.30pmContact Pip White for further information.
Prizes and scholarships
Highly acclaimed teachers and researchers
The Conservatorium is home to some of Australia's finest musicians, composers and researchers. Staff members include leading industry figures, highly active performers, composers and researchers, as well as dedicated educators.
Conductor's Circle
"Our mission states that if you are looking for music in your life, or a life in music, the UWA Conservatorium is the place. Come play on our stage."
Message from Alan Lourens, Head, Conservatorium of Music
By joining the Conductor’s Circle, you will be making a truly outstanding contribution to the creative leaders of tomorrow, establishing a legacy that extends far beyond what we see as possible today.
Conservatorium research
We have a long-established tradition of research in music education, historical musicology and performance practice, as well as a strong track record in composition and performance.
Research is closely interwoven with the Callaway Centre, a research hub that provides a focus for discussion, projects and postgraduate activity and training. It is also home to the Callaway Centre Archive of Australian and international collections.
Our research areas
View all of our research staff
Projects
News
Open day set to deliver an exciting taste of uni life
Listening to the universe through a Spacetime Simulator, seeing the back of your own eyeball and making electronic music through a ‘beat-maker’ are just some of the hands-on activities available to prospective students at The University of Western Australia’s Open Day on Sunday 12 March.
Read moreNew Forrest Creative Fellows announced
A rising star of contemporary classical music who graduated from UWA was one of four artists to be awarded a prestigious Forrest Research Foundation Creative and Performance Leadership Fellowship.
Read moreTravelling song, Noongar heritage and the Kronos Quartet
In this season’s 2023 Perth Festival, Professor Clint Bracknell heads a Noongar-vocal string collaboration with the Kronos Quartet, a San Franciscan string quartet with a rotating musicianship of almost 50 years.
Read morePartnerships
The Conservatorium has strong industry links, working closely with some of Australia’s leading music organisations, community groups and schools to present exciting educational events and opportunities for students.
Performance spaces, instruments and technologies
Located next to the picturesque Swan River, the Conservatorium of Music has various performance, teaching and rehearsal spaces available to staff, students and for occasional external hire. We have a large collection of modern and historical instruments as well as specialist music technology and software available for use by current students.
Contact us
Access
Office hours: 8.30am to 4pm. The office is closed 1–2pm Fridays for lunchtime concerts.