History
Our history
Founded in 1957 by the state government as the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, it achieved autonomy as a College of Advanced Education in 1971. With the federal government’s reform of the tertiary sector in the late 1980s, the Conservatorium became a College of Griffith University in 1991, now the major tertiary provider of higher education in the creative and performing arts in Australia.
The Conservatorium began its existence in a heritage building in South Brisbane, then moving to a purpose built complex at Gardens Point in 1975, and subsequently to the current state-of-the-art building at South Bank, opened in 1996. A regional campus in Mackay opened in 1989, which has since 1995 been part of Central Queensland University. Since 1999 QCGU has further expanded its operations, both in terms of location and type of program through the offering of Popular Music at the Gold Coast, which is now the largest and fastest growing campus of Griffith University.
Our Directors
The position of Director has been held by six persons since the Conservatorium’s foundation, William Lovelock, Basil Jones, Roy Wales, Anthony Camden, Simone de Haan, and currently Peter Roennfeldt.
William Lovelock, a Composer and music theorist, was appointed as the inaugural Queensland Conservatorium Director, arriving in Brisbane to finalise preparations in 1956. Previously he had taught at various institutions in the United Kingdom including Trinity College London. During his three year term until mid 1959, he oversaw the appointment of the inaugural staff team, the introduction of the diploma programs, and engaged in a range of community-focussed activities.
Basil Jones, then based in Melbourne, was engaged as the inaugural senior violin lecturer from 1957. On the departure of William Lovelock he was appointed the second director in 1960, a position he held until his retirement in 1980. During his tenure, the planning for the Gardens Point campus and its opening were undertaken, as well as the introduction of the first music degree program in Australia to be offered by a non-university institution. The range of programs was also expanded to include School Music, in collaboration with the Department of Education, an arrangement that continued after the Conservatorium achieved autonomous status as a College of Advanced Education in 1971.
Roy Wales took up the position of Director in 1981, having worked extensively in the UK as a choral director and graduating from the University of Washington USA with a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting. His expertise in choral music and ensemble work was a major feature of his time in Queensland, where he founded the Brisbane Chorale and the Conservatorium Singers, an undergraduate choir with which he toured internationally. During his tenure, diplomas in Jazz and Music Technology were introduced, and the pre-tertiary Conservatorium Music School was founded. He returned to the UK in 1987.
Anthony Camden was appointed in 1988, having performed widely as a solo oboist and member of numerous ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra. His tenure saw the Conservatorium’s amalgamation with Griffith University, and negotiation with various levels of government for acquisition of the South Bank site for the current building. External links with major festivals and corporate organisations were also fostered, as well as the enrolment of numerous international students particularly from Asia, and the establishment of the Mackay campus.
Simone de Haan was previously on staff as a trombone lecturer for several years, and returned in 1996 having worked in various Australian tertiary music institutions, most recently as Director of the Tasmanian Conservatorium. He oversaw the move to South Bank, which provided additional opportunities for expansion in program offerings and public peformances, as well as a closer link with the cultural precinct and the arts and educational organisations. During his tenure the Gold Coast program was established, as well as program offerings that interfaced with other faculties and disciplines within the university.
Peter Roennfeldt was a longstanding staff member prior to being appointed as Director from late 2002, having already served as a Deputy Director for several years. His expertise in keyboard, choral and early music has included numerous performances with Conservatorium and community ensembles. Highlights during his tenure thus far have included the Conservatorium’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2007, and the establishment of the Research Centre in 2003.
Numerous distinguished Australian and international musicians have held teaching and leadership positions since the Conservatorium’s founding.