History
The Conservatorium was first established on 11 September 1972 as a Wollongong branch of the then New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music, with James Powell as first Hon. Principal. The Conservatorium moved its operations to Glennifer Brae in a ceremony marked on 2 June 1980 by then Premier of NSW Neville Wran. Later, the Conservatorium split from its parent organisation, and instead became affiliated with the University of Wollongong, becoming known as the University Conservatorium of Music. In 1996, the Conservatorium split from the University and became incorporated as the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.
The Conservatorium commissioned a composition from John Spence in 2004 in order to "mark the launch of a new cultural identity for the steel city." The composition was titled Wollongong Overture.
In 2005, the Conservatorium began to consider cutting courses because of the decreased funding it was receiving from the government. The principal of the Conservatorium, Graham Drayton, stated that they were "owed about $45,000 in overdue fees".
The Gleniffer Brae property was being considered for sale by the Wollongong City Council in May 2010, though no decision was made and the status of the property has sat in limbo since the consideration was announced. The Conservatorium was reassured that it would "be allowed to stay on as a tenant" in the case of a sale. The University of Wollongong has "expressed an interest in possibly using Gleniffer Brae for creative arts."
On 9 June 2012, the Conservatorium celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Read more about this topic: Wollongong Conservatorium Of Music
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