Indigenous music hits high note with opening of new college

6/7/00
Australia's only indigenous contemporary music school has a new home in Perth, with the official opening today of a $1.1 million facility.
The state-of-the-art resource was built for the Aboriginal and Islander College of Music with a grant from the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).
Opened by Employment and Training Minister Mike Board, the building is on the old Christian Brothers site at Clontarf and houses a recording studio, music training facility and classrooms.
It was completed in October last year with the first intake of 107 students taking place in February.
Mr Board said the facility provided a major boost for the many talented Aboriginal and Islander musicians, who previously had studied in a converted hospital at Clontarf.
The college, established in 1985, is a subsidiary of the Aboriginal Music Corporation (Abmusic) and shares the Clontarf site with a number of other Aboriginal organisations.
As part of today's celebrations Mr Board also launched a CD by Fred Penny, a student at the college, titled 'A Penny for Your Thoughts'.
"Graduates from the college have been very successful in establishing themselves in a variety of media," the Minister said.
"These include the bands Pipeline, Yabu, Urbargine and Wild Peach and another graduate, Alice Haines, has the lead female role in the film 'Serenades' to be released later this year.
"Their success is an example of the opportunities available to students at the college - it is an excellent facility providing quality, culturally relevant training that leads to employment and performance opportunities."
In 1999, 55 students graduated in the Certificate in Performing Arts (Music) and the Associate Diploma of Arts (Music). This year, 107 students are undertaking the Certificate in Performing Arts (Music) and Associate Diploma of Arts (Music).
Mr Board said the college had attracted Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff, many of whom who had distinguished careers in the Australian entertainment industry.
Many well-known artists had visited the Clontarf site to foster the growth of Indigenous talent, including Archie Roach, Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson, Yothu Yindi, Bob Dylan, Jack Thompson, Tiddas and Coloured Stone.
Mr Board said training at the college was not just about studying music, with programs in place to assist the community through the work done by staff and students.
"Staff and students will implement a number of activities this year, including arts reconciliation forums to promote cross-cultural understanding and work with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal dysfunctional high school students."
The Aboriginal and Islander College of Music is funded through the Commonwealth Indigenous Education Strategic Initiatives Program (IESIP) and the WA Department of Training and Employment.
Media contact: Tamatha Smith, 9222 9211