Leading teacher at Bairnsdale Secondary College, Kim Green, was the coordinator of last Thursday’s most successful East Gippsland Music Festival held at a packed out Boucher Hall which included 250 local students.
The annual event invites schools with students who play musical instruments to perform after practicing and learning parts earlier in the year. The students then came together for a day-long workshop run by specialist music educators prior to the music presentation evening. This year, with assistance from Mitchell River Rotary Club, the festival participants received professional advice and guidance from Dr Sue Arney, well-known music teacher, education lecturer and researching professional in music education at Melbourne University.
“It is mandated by the government that students learn music in schools until year eight,” Dr Arney said.
“Music for many students is a reason to come to school. Students focus, concentrate and enjoy a connection to school and community through music.
“Currently a teacher can get a job anywhere but you are lucky to have dedicated young teachers and sometimes retired teachers of music coming out of retirement to teach music in East Gippsland. They know the value of music for the student in their lives at school and later in life.

IMAGE: Dr Sue Arney (far right) was the special guest conductor of students for schools across the region at the East Gippsland Music Festival last Thursday at
Boucher Hall. Dr Arney is a music teacher, education lecturer and researching professional at Melbourne University.