New England Conservatorium
New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM) enables people across Armidale and the New England region to access quality musical opportunities within the grand spaces of the heritage-listed Armidale Teachers’ College building.
2025 MARIAN BARFORD AWARDS
Sunday 23 February 2025
This inter-generational concert celebrates the 50th anniversary of the New England Ensemble’s debut, honours NECOM’s current teacher-performers, and spotlights our young rising stars.
Robert Harris, founding violist of the New England Ensemble, will perform with current staff and students of the New England Conservatorium of Music. Robert will also present the 2025 Marian Barford Awards during the event. Don’t miss this landmark celebration of fine music, heritage, and community!
New England Conservatorium
Mini Musos 2025
Wednesday 26 February 2025
Mini Musos offers your child the exciting opportunity to try a variety of instruments before choosing the instrument best suited to them.
This series of unique musical taster workshops is suitable for children in Kindergarten - Year 3.
They will work with NECOM's experienced teachers throughout the 6-week program.
Each week children will be given opportunities to try out and enjoy a variety of musical experiences
in:
Piano
Winds
Strings
Percussion
Singing (Choir)
Each session commences with fun music games to warm up our ears, followed by demonstrations by specialist tutors in each instrument and an opportunity to try out instruments.
At the conclusion of the program families will be provided with individual feedback, recommendations for which instrument(s) best suits their child, and information about the options available for learning an instrument through NECOM.
New England Conservatorium of Music
Armidale Youth Orchestra ensembles Sawtell Camp 2025
Fri 28 February - Sun 2 March 2025
Each year in February, all the AYO ensembles and families spent a weekend at Sawtell Beach for a wonderful time of music making. This is an essential component of the AYO's program for the year and is loved by the players and families alike. Students from local schools will also be able to participate in the rehearsals and final concert from Friday 28 February to Sunday 2 March 2025. Don't miss out and book your space as soon as possible!
Sawtell Public School
Acacia Quartet 2025
Sunday 9 March 2025
Experience the beauty of two iconic masterpieces of the string genre - Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No. 1 interweaving folk songs from the Ukraine with lush Romanticism and Borodin’s rich, dramatic String Quartet No. 2 - alongside an exciting new Australian work Entering the Palaces, by Lyle Chan. Don’t miss this extraordinary blend of timeless classics and fresh innovation, performed by the acclaimed Acacia Quartet!
ARTISTS
DOREEN CUMMING Violin
LISA STEWART Violin
STEFAN DUWE Viola
ANNA MARTIN-SCRASE Cello
PROGRAM
TCHAIKOVSKY Quartet No.1 in D major, Op. 11
LYLE CHAN Entering the Palaces
BORODIN Quartet No. 2 in D major
Armidale Town - 127 Rusden St ARMIDALE
NICK RUSSONIELLO - Air Mass 2025
Thursday 20 March 2025
Composed and performed by award winning saxophonist Nick Russoniello, the Air Mass concert will invite YOU into the creative space by intersecting audience-generated sounds, live looping and body percussion with a virtuosic solo saxophone performance. Lyricism and groove will meet in a powerful and immersive experience that will traverse repertoire from baroque to beatbox and beyond.
PROGRAM
EDWARDS Chorale and Ecstatic Dance
PURCELL The Fairy Queen: Selections STRAVINSKY (arr. strings) Three Pieces from Petrushka HARRISON Black Ice*
Bartók Divertimento for String Orchestra
*Commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra
The Armidale Playhouse
Homestead Series 2025
Between Sunday 30 March 2025 and Sunday 26 October 2025
NECOM’s Homestead Series offers a magical afternoon of fine chamber music performed live in three of the New England’s private homesteads that are not opened to the public. The series showcases NECOM’s staff of talented musicians and guest artists, alongside New England’s impressive architectural heritage.
ROSECROFT, GLEN INNES SUNDAY 30 MARCH, 3pm
WATERLOO STATION, MATHESON SUNDAY 27 JULY, 3pm
DEEPWATER STATION, DEEPWATER SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER, 3pm
Seating is limited so get in early to secure your tickets.
Multiple Venues
NICKI PARROTT & HER NORTHERN RIVERS BAND - FEELIN’ GROOVY
Sunday 22 June 2025
After 30 years of headlining New York, Japan and Europe to sold-out performances at most of the world’s top jazz venues and festivals, international recording and touring artist Nicki Parrott celebrates her return home to “slow down and chill out” with her exceptional Northern Rivers Band.
Feelin’ Groovy is a musical tribute to the “Swinging Sixties” presented by a world-class ensemble. Fun for all ages!
ARTISTS
Nicki Parrott Acoustic bass, electric bass and vocal
Steve Russell Piano/keyboard
Dave Sanders Drums
Todd Hardy Trumpet/flugelhorn
Shane Hannan Trombone
Martha Baartz Sax/flute
New England Conservatorium of Music
Arcadia Winds 2025
Sunday 14 September 2025
Arcadia Winds are the trailblazers of Australian wind music. Don’t miss this extraordinary ensemble and see what the critics are raving about!
Captivating from the moment they took to the stage. Playing with great gusto and passion, these five uber talented musicians...stole the hearts of everyone in the crowd.
The Adelaide Review
A festival highlight, bursting with sonic potential.
The Sydney Morning Herald
ARTISTS
Kiran Phatak Flute
Rachel Bullen Oboe
Lloyd Van’t Hoff Clarinet
Rachel Shaw Horn
Matthew Kneale Bassoon
PROGRAM
Pēteris Vasks Music for Fleeting Birds
Anne Cawrse Honeybee
Holly Harrison Phasmid Funk
Miguel del Aguila Wind Quintet No. 2
Valerie Coleman Red Clay Mississippi Delta
Armidale Town - 127 Rusden St ARMIDALE
Trio Isimsiz 2025
Tuesday 14 October 2025
In its first Australian tour and only regional performance, Trio Isimsiz from the UK performs two giants of the piano trio repertoire by Schubert and Brahms, alongside an exciting new voice, the ‘ear-beguiling and strikingly inventive’ Francisco Coll.
ARTISTS
PABLO HERNÁN BENEDI Violin
EDVARD POGOSSIAN Cello
ERDEM MISIRLIOGLU Piano
PROGRAM
BRAHMS Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor
SCHUBERT Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat major
FRANCISCO COLL Piano Trio (2020)
Armidale Town - 127 Rusden St ARMIDALE
New England Sings! 2024 -Digital Recordings
Between Sunday 27 October 2024 and Saturday 2 November 2024
New England Sings! is our nationally acclaimed, award-winning choral showcase bringing together over 900 students from across the New England region, accompanied by an 80-piece orchestra.
In 2024 we will premiere two new Australian choral works commissioned especially for the 20th anniversary of the New England Conservatorium – Ian Jefferson (primary choral) and Kate Miller-Heidke (secondary choral).
Lazenby Hall
New England Brass Collective and New England Trumpet Consort
Between Sunday 8 September 2024 and Sunday 1 December 2024
Join us for a fascinating musical journey through Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras, with works by Taverner, Clarke, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Wagner, Bliss et al.
St Peter's Anglican Cathedral
Combo Workshops for Solo Performers (Instrumental & Singers)
Wednesday 13 November 2024
Instrumental and Singers Combo Workshop: 6:15pm-7:30pm WED. 13th November
Run-through and Concert: 6:15pm-7:30pm THURS. 21st November
6 places only!
Bring your song charts to a session where you get to play with a professional jazz/pop/rnb group consisting of piano, bass, guitar and drums.
Under the guidance and mentorship of singer and band leader Sharny Russell, work through your chart with the combo, and also learn from watching the other players do the same.
A week later, rehearse your song(s) and perform in front of your family and friends in a small private concert at NECOM
This is an invaluable opportunity for instrumentalists. Learn the skills needed to rehearse and perform with a band. Each participant will have communicated their song choices to Sharny by email, and will receive help with appropriate keys, preparing the chart, and any other assistance required before the workshop.
Ideal for 16 years+ to Adults
Cost: $150
Closing date for admission: 4 November 2024
New England Conservatorium of Music
String Playing Fitness Classes for Violin, Viola and Cello
Saturday 16 November 2024
For students Grade 5 AMEB and above with visiting teacher Dr. Goetz Richter AM - Associate Professor Strings,
Sydney Conservatorium of Music. At the conclusion of the sessions there will be an opportunity for discussion with teachers (2:45-3:30pm).
New England Conservatorium
NECOM LETS LOOSE @BOOBOOKS Caleb Murray & James Chen
Friday 15 November 2024
In this exciting new venture coming out of the New England Conservatorium of Music, our brilliant teachers - mostly known for nurturing our young instrumental students to their potential in classical music - James and Caleb will perform an eclectic mix of music for cello and violin.
Boobooks Armidale
NECOM LETS LOOSE @BOOBOOKS Rob van Gend & Sharny Russell
Friday 8 November 2024
In this exciting new venture coming out of the New England Conservatorium of Music, our brilliant teachers - mostly known for nurturing our young instrumental students to their potential in classical music - will be performing contemporary commercial music from Jazz to Beatles and Bowie. You will get to feel the sheer enjoyment of these musicians as they play some of their favourite popular music.
Boobooks Armidale
NECOM LETS LOOSE @BOOBOOKS Armidale Electric Orchestra 2024
Friday 18 October 2024
In this exciting new venture coming out of the New England Conservatorium of Music, our brilliant teachers - mostly known for nurturing our young instrumental students to their potential in classical music - will be performing contemporary commercial music from Jazz to Beatles and Bowie. You will get to feel the sheer enjoyment of these musicians as they play some of their favourite popular music.
Boobooks Armidale
NECOM LETS LOOSE @BOOBOOKS Sharny Russell & Denis Dos Santos
Friday 11 October 2024
In this exciting new venture coming out of the New England Conservatorium of Music, our brilliant teachers - mostly known for nurturing our young instrumental students to their potential in classical music - will be performing contemporary commercial music from Jazz to Beatles and Bowie. You will get to feel the sheer enjoyment of these musicians as they play some of their favourite popular music.
Boobooks Armidale
Festival of Bands 2024
Saturday 21 September 2024
A celebration of wind and brass playing from all around Armidale featuring the New England Wind Ensemble as well as younger groups from NECOM and local schools.
Join us on our musical journey, developing a love of wonderful band music in all its many forms.
Armidale Town - 127 Rusden St ARMIDALE
Goldner String Quartet 2024
Sunday 15 September 2024
The Goldner String Quartet has longstanding recognition, not only as Australia’s pre-eminent string quartet but as an ensemble of international significance, favourably compared with the best in the world. Join us for their final concert season as they bring their 30-year Goldner String Quartet journey to a close.
ARTISTS
Dene Olding Violin
Dimity Hall Violin
Irina Morozova Viola
Julian Smiles Cello
PROGRAM
MOZART Quartet No.4 in C major, K 157
SHOSTAKOVICH Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110
BEETHOVEN Quartet in E minor, Op. 59 No.2
Armidale Town - 127 Rusden St ARMIDALE
Jazzlab Workshop: Improvisation for Beginners 2024
Thursday 5 September 2024
This workshop is for singers and instrumentalists. Bring your instrument. Sharny will teach
you some simple strategies for finding musical melody lines over chord changes, beginning
with shorter ideas, and building to longer ones. Sharny will take you through some wonderful
rhythmic and melodic exercises to build some foundations, then help you to find confidence
in your aural skills. Every person at the workshop will have a chance to go it alone if they
want, as we pass the baton every 4 or 8 bars.
New England Conservatorium of Music
Mini Musos 2024
Between Wednesday 21 February 2024 and Wednesday 31 July 2024
Mini Musos offers your child the exciting opportunity to try a variety of instruments before choosing the instrument best suited to them.
This series of unique musical taster workshops is suitable for children in Kindergarten - Year 3.
They will work with NECOM's experienced teachers throughout the 6-week program.
Each week children will be given opportunities to try out and enjoy a variety of musical experiences
in:
Piano
Winds
Strings
Percussion
Singing (Choir)
Each session commences with fun music games to warm up our ears, followed by demonstrations by specialist tutors in each instrument and an opportunity to try out instruments.
At the conclusion of the program families will be provided with individual feedback, recommendations for which instrument(s) best suits their child, and information about the options available for learning an instrument through NECOM.
New England Conservatorium of Music
Jazzlab Workshop: 6 Exercises for Jazz Singers 2024
Thursday 22 August 2024
6 Exercises for Jazz Singers and more! Sharny Russell has produced a succinct set of exercises borne out of her many years teaching jazz voice at Qld Conservatorium, Elder Conservatorium and The Jazz Institute.
These exercise are designed to free up the jazz articulation and agility, build in scatting phraseology, as well as train quick intonation skills necessary for scat singing, as well as faster lyrics in jazz songs. As well as helping with jazz phrasing, these exercises also develop breath control and work your whole vocal range.
New England Conservatorium of Music
Children's Chorus for La Bohème 2024
Thursday 15 August 2024
Thank for encouraging your child to audition for the Children’s Chorus in the upcoming production of Opera Australia’s La Bohème. I am thrilled to let you know your child was successful in their audition and will have the opportunity to perform on-stage with some of Australia’s leading opera stars! The overall standard of this year’s auditions was very high, and we congratulate your child on receiving one of these positions.
Lazenby Hall
Opera Australia's La Bohème 2024
Thursday 15 August 2024
NECOM is proud to present Opera Australia's newest touring production of La Bohème for a once-only performance in Armidale on Thursday 15 August at 7.00pm.
Sung in English, this new production is designed to entertain people of all ages and features a chamber orchestra and a stunning set, costumes and lighting. On a freezing Christmas Eve, love sparks.
Two hands meet in the dark and four friends’ lives change forever.
Experience the original bohemian love story.
La Bohème has always captured the soaring spirit of young love and this new production breathes fresh life into one of the world’s favourite operas. Award-winning director Dean Bryant (Anything Goes, Sweet Charity) brings his trademark wit and vivacity to this new staging, which captures that giddy moment where you and your friends feel you’ll live forever.
Dean Bryant Director
Isabel Bryant Set and Costume Designer
Damien Cooper Lighting Designer
Lazenby Hall
Early Childhood Workshop - Inverell (CANCELLED)
Saturday 3 August 2024
Professional development opportunity for early childhood educators
Learn from experienced Early Childhood NECOM teachers, Beck Smith & Jordanna Bazeley about music in early childhood settings. This will be a hands-on workshop to give early childhood educators and teachers new repertoire and skills for getting the most out of music lessons with children.
Who Can Join?
Early Childhood educators & teachers
Workshop:
3 August 2024, 10am - 3.30pm
Danthonia Community Hall
Cost: $135 including morning tea and lunch
Closing Date: 13 July 2024
LIMITED SPACES
Register Today!
Danthonia Community Hall
India Smith & Friends 2024
Friday 21 June 2024
Please join India and her friends as they perform an exciting program of music for violin, cello and flute.
Program: Vivaldi, Mozart, De Falla, Suk, Minter, and more!
Performers: India Smith, Amelie van der Werf, Arlie Bragg, Bridie O'Neill, Sam Russell and Tiko Lay
Accompanist: Dr Robert Manley
Proceeds will be donated to the Armidale Youth Orchestras, of which all the performers are active members. Thank you for your support!
The Armidale Playhouse
HSC Music Exam Preparation Workshop 2024
Wednesday 19 June 2024
Achieve your personal best!
Blitz your HSC Music written exams and achieve your personal best in the upcoming HSC trial and written exams at NECOM’s annual Music Bootcamp on Wednesday 19 June. Presented by experienced HSC music teachers and markers, the HSC Music Bootcamp offers parallel sessions so students can choose the topics that best suit their needs. The day includes informative sessions sharing written exam techniques, samples of best-practice Q&A responses and free take-home study notes.
New England Conservatorium
Australian Guitar Quartet 2024
Thursday 9 May 2024
Bach to Bossa and Beyond
Enjoy a kaleidoscopic program spanning 300 years, taking you on a captivating journey from Bach to Bossa and beyond with four of Australia’s leading guitarists as your tour guide.
This concert promises to be an unforgettable experience with something for everyone. Be transported by these four master instrumentalists – their remarkable musicianship and virtuosic playing will leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime!
ARTISTS
Vladimir Gorbach Guitar
Leonard Grigoryan Guitar
Slava Grigoryan Guitar
Andrew Blanch Guitar
Armidale Town - 127 Rusden St ARMIDALE
SongMakers Music writing workshop April 2024
Thursday 4 April 2024
We have an exciting opportunity for budding song writers to attend a FREE song writing workshop on Thursday 4 & Friday 5 April 2024 for local students aged 16-21. They will spend 2 days writing and recording songs and learning about music careers from some of Australia’s most inspiring creators.
Workshop mentors include Sydney electronic artist/writer and vocalist, Kota Banks, who makes lyrically-sophisticated hyper pop. She is a frequent writing collaborator and go-to festival performer with a growing global band of passionate followers. Chelsea Warner is a
producer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has collaborated with Emalia, Tentendo, and Vetta Borne and has credits on releases by Ūla, Urthboy, Liyah Knight, BVT and more.
Sydney-based artist/writer Bec Sandridge has collaborated with a stellar list of music industry heavyweights, including Dave Jenkins Jr (Daniel Johns, Vera Blue), Lucy Taylor (Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding), and Gab Strum (Japanese Wallpaper).
New England Conservatorium
Instrumental Combo Workshop 2024
Wednesday 13 March 2024
Instrumental Combo Workshop: 5:30pm-7:30pm WED. 13th March
Run-through and Concert on the following week, 5:30pm-7:30pm WED. 20th March
6 places only!
Bring your song charts to a session where you get to play with a professional jazz/pop/rnb group consisting of piano, bass, guitar and drums.
Under the guidance and mentorship of singer and band leader Sharny Russell, work through your chart with the combo, and also learn from watching the other players do the same.
A week later, rehearse your song(s) and perform in front of your family and friends in a small private concert at NECOM
This is an invaluable opportunity for instrumentalists. Learn the skills needed to rehearse and perform with a band. Each participant will have communicated their song choices to Sharny by email, and will receive help with appropriate keys, preparing the chart, and any other assistance required before the workshop.
Ideal for 16 years+ to Adults
Cost: $150
New England Conservatorium of Music
Emma Pask with Bill Risby 2024
Thursday 7 March 2024
Discovered by jazz legend James Morrison at the age of 16, Emma Pask has become one of Australia’s favourite voices in Jazz. Her effortless honest stage presence, combined with her powerful vocal ability, leaves audiences spellbound and inspired.
Bill studied jazz (piano + double bass) at the NSW Conservatorium of Music and is now regarded as one of the most accomplished musicians in the field having nine albums to his name. He has also performed and collaborated with a raft of leading musicians including The Supremes, The Temptations, Marcia Hines, Spandau Ballet, Dionne Warwick and his piano playing was featured in the films “Australia”, “The Great Gatsby”, as well as being the sound of Peter Allen’s piano in the Australian Tele-movie “Not the Boy Next Door”.
Performing an up close and intimate concert this setting is sure to delight as the duo interweave storytelling through timeless swinging jazz standards, upbeat Latin rhythms, tender ballads and, of course, some raucous blues.
Armidale Town - 127 Rusden St ARMIDALE
2024 HSC Music Composition Workshop
Tuesday 5 March 2024
NECOM’s Composition Workshop offers an invaluable opportunity for music students to develop their composition skills in preparation for their core or elective HSC compositions. The workshop is presented by leading composer Luke Byrne who specialises in teaching HSC composition music students. This workshop is aligned with the NSW Education Standards syllabi for Music 1, Music 2 and Extension.
New England Conservatorium
Armidale Youth Orchestra ensembles Sawtell Camp 2024
Sat 24 - Sun 25 February 2024
Each year in February, all the AYO ensembles and families spent a weekend at Sawtell Beach for a wonderful time of music making. This is an essential component of the AYO's program for the year and is loved by the players and families alike. This year students from local schools will also be able to participate in the rehearsals and final concert from Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 February. Don't miss out and book your space as soon as possible!
Sawtell Public School
Rising Stars Concert / Marian Barford 2024
Sunday 18 February 2024
Featuring works by J. S. Bach, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Bartók and more, performed by outstanding students and alumni of the New England Conservatorium of Music.
Performers include Madison Sim, David Tan, Abigail Thompson,
and Jonathan Bruhl accompanied by pianists Robert Manley,
Euga Ruan, and Sheila Guymer.
New England Conservatorium of Music