Mastering the world of professional music

A new two-year postgraduate degree will provide greater employment opportunities for classical musicians.

The Master of Music (Orchestral Performance) sees the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music partner with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the first qualification of its kind in the Asia-Pacific.

The degree has been developed to provide future generations of performing musicians greater employment opportunities both nationally and internationally.

Professor Gary McPherson, Director of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, said the program is expected to attract the finest Australian and international musicians, providing them with the vital skills required to develop their careers.

“In addition to developing elite-level performance skills, we want young musicians to be able to manage their professional lives and understand what it takes physically and mentally to sustain a career across decades of performing music.”

Sophie Galaise, Managing Director of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, said students would have the opportunity to perform alongside the Orchestra’s musicians and be mentored by them as they progress through a course that is unique on the world stage.

“We are delighted to be part of such a unique program nurturing young musicians, facilitating collaborations and giving them the opportunity to work with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in state-of-the-art rehearsal facilities and a major international performance venue,” she said.

“The graduates of the Orchestral Performance degree will be fully prepared to use their skills, knowledge and understandings within any world-class orchestra.”

The course will run out of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music’s new Ian Potter Southbank Centre, a breathtaking new facility made possible through the generous support of the Ian Potter Foundation.  

The Master of Music (Orchestral Performance) program will commence in 2018 with enrolments set to open in April this year.