Welcome

In light of our grumbling about Sydney's declining live music scene, City of Sydney's Live Music and Performance Action Plan update and funding announcement is most refreshing.

At a state level we turn our attention to great live music work in South Australia, after previously praising Victoria's development.

Let's also praise silence, often music's best friend, with a neat classroom example. And we love Uni of Tasmania's community music program - could it work for you?

We're worried that global artistic freedom may be on the wane - more vital now than ever.

As always, become a Music Australia member, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, share your news, and we'll share the latest music news.

Cheers,

Chris Bowen CEO

Music Australia

	INTERNATIONAL


	ARTISTIC FREEDOM Art Under Threat in 2016 – A Worrying Increase in Attacks on Artists International agency Freemuse’s latest report shows a concerning global trend of artistic freedom coming under increased threat. Attacks on artists and violation of their rights have doubled, with music most affected. Full story


	CONTEMPORARY Our First 100 Days We take a look at a US campaign which is releasing a new song each day over the course of Donald Trump’s first 100 days in the White House. The plan is to create 100 songs “that inspire progress and benefit a cause for change”. Full story

	NATIONAL


	CLASSICAL What is the Gender Balance in Australia's Orchestras? Seven of the 15 winners in the recently announced Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s 2017 Fellowship scheme are female, including all the brass players. It promises to help overcome a serious imbalance in Australia’s orchestras in which brass players tend to be male. Full story


	CLASSICAL Adelaide Festival Seeks to Recapture its Glory Days One of the features that made the Adelaide Festival of Arts stand out in former years was its programming of major contemporary operas. Opera makes a comeback this year, albeit by way of the Baroque, with a staged version of Handel’s Saul. Full story

CONTEMPORARY

SA Leads the Way with Game-Changing, Pro-Live Music Laws and Initiatives

South Australia’s live music venues are benefiting from a slashing of red tape and a series of supportive initiatives. Full story

CONTEMPORARY

Revitalising Sydney’s live music scene – City reports on Action Plan

City of Sydney has announced new dedicated live music funding along with a progress report on its Live Music and Performance Action Plan. Full story


	CONTEMPORARY Opera House Just One of Many Music Venues Struggling With Regulations The ionic venue Sydney Opera House faces a $15,000 noise fine for a 2015 concert. Full story


	MEMBERSHIP Are you a musician or music industry professional travelling around Australia? Book your next tour or conference ticket after joining Music Australia. Our members can access Virgin Australia’s discount baggage allowances! Plus, we offer 25% discount on our advertising rates, discounts to industry events, 20% off Ukulele Song School products, 20% off tunes at SongLibrary, and lots more.Sign up today!

	EDUCATION


	Another Study Points to How Learning Music Can Help Children Academically While the ‘Mozart Effect’ has largely been debunked by psychologists and musicologists, a new pilot study published in the British Journal of Music Education is showing that secondary school children who learn a musical instrument are performing better academically. Full story


	Mindfulness in the Music Room Just as mindfulness helps shape a positive mental state, appreciating and practicing silence in the music room can help teachers and students prepare for music making. Full story

	COMMUNITY


	A Look Inside Tasmania Uni’s 32-year-old Community Music Program Every week, 200 musicians aged 12-65+ play music across six ensembles in one of Australia's most enduring community music programs. Full Story

	OPPORTUNITIES


	All the latest music opportunities - here and online! Access our complete suite of Opportunities at your leisure on our website. Your one-stop-shop for all the latest music information: competitions, awards, funding, jobs, conferences, events, workshops, resources and more. View the OPPORTUNITIES section on our website now ! And the latest opportunities are below. To share an Opportunity send us an email.

Competitions & Awards


	Applications closing soon for these Competitions & Awards: Gold Coast Music Awards Nominations close 10 March Nominations for the 2017 Gold Coast Music Awards are now open the Gold Coast Music Awards shines a spotlight on the exceptional talent from the city. Yamaha $100,000 Giveaway Applications close 13 March Yamaha Music Australia is choosing one school that needs a helping hand in getting a band program off the ground by providing them with a school-changing giveaway and launch concert with Guy Sebastian. Australian Jazz Bell Awards Applications close 15 March The Australian Jazz Bell Awards recognise and encourage excellence in the performance, creativity, recording and presentation of jazz in Australia. In honour of one of the greats of Australian jazz - Graeme Bell, MBE, AO.

Workshops, Seminars & Programs


	Applications closing soon for these Workshops, Seminars & Programs: I Manage My Music Workshop 4 March, Melbourne A day long workshop intensive for musicians serious about making music in Australia today. Young Warriors Making Music Live 2017 Applications close 16 March Young Warriors is a program with the aim of getting young people involved recreationally in making music. It’s a ten-week program providing aspiring musicians aged 12-19 with the experience of rehearsing, playing in a band and performing in live gigs. Arts Sponsorship Masterclass with Nicole Newman 20-31 March, National Creative Partnerships Australia are inviting arts workers to join them for a masterclass with UK Arts Fundraising and Sponsorship Consultant Nicole Newman.

Conferences & Festivals


	Conferences & Festivals just around the corner: Sydney Eisteddfod Applications close 13 March Entries are now open for one of the largest and most successful competitive performing arts festivals in Australia, which aims to support emerging and young musical talent. Women in the Creative Arts Call for Papers deadline 20 March The School of Music at the Australian National University (ANU), announces a call for papers and submissions for an innovative research conference on “Women in the Creative Arts.” Taking place 10 – 12 August at ANU. Papers and proposals are invited from scholars and creative arts practitioners. Emergence Creative Festival 29 March - 1 April This four day festival held in the Margaret River in WA will bring together creatives from a wide range of areas. Along with live music, it will also feature international keynotes and interactive workshops. Melbourne International Singers Festival 8-12 June, Melbourne Now celebrating its 8th year, the Melbourne International Singers Festival showcases world renowned artists, performers and educators in the magnificent venues in Melbourne's art precinct. Australian Society for Music Education XXI National Conference 15- 17 July, Melbourne The theme for the ASME XXI National Conference is Uniting Voices, which seeks to embrace and celebrate music education across the vast array of institutions. Call for papers have been extended to 8 March.

Funding


	*Applications closing soon for these Funding Opportunities:* Western Sydney Making Spaces Initiative Applications close 6 March The Western Sydney Making Spaces Initiative will provide funding to enable professional artists and arts organisations to create their work in new studios, artists’ residencies and rehearsal spaces in Western Sydney. Arts and Cultural Infrastructure Grants Applications close 10 March The focus of the 2017 round is on the development and enhancement of arts and cultural facilities. Liquor & Gaming NSW is inviting applications for projects that support communities across NSW to increase participation in arts and culture and drive cultural tourism. Cross-Pollination, An Audience Development Initiative EOI’s Close 13 March The Australia Council for the Arts is inviting expressions of interest to participate in Cross-Pollination, a two week audience development skills exchange. This program will give participants an opportunity to see how other organisations and art forms work to attract and retain audiences in situ. Australia House Japan Residency Applications close 15 March Australia House is calling for participants for their residency program. Visual artists, performance artists, writers, researchers, art educators and people of all art forms are encouraged to apply.

	JOBS


	Applications closing soon for these Jobs & Auditions: JOBS ABC, Digital Media Coordinator Applications close 2 March ABC is looking for someone to coordinate their marketing and media campaigns and promote the full range of ABC content, product & services, across TV, radio and online, to new and existing audiences. Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Education Support Officer Applications close 5 March The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is seeking to appoint an Education Support Officer to join the team. MusicNSW, Marketing Coordinator Applications close 6 March Peak state body MusicNSW is looking for a new marketing coordinator to manage the development and implementation of their marketing strategy. This is a part time role based in Sydney. Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Director of Sales and Marketing Applications close 6 March Queensland’s largest performing arts company is looking for someone who has demonstrated success in leading a senior sales and marketing team. Gondwana Choirs, Marketing Manager Applications close 13 March An exciting opportunity is now open for an experienced Arts Marketer to join the dynamic team at Gondwana Choirs. AUDITIONS Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Tutti 1st Violin Applications close 3 April Sydney Symphony Orchestra is holding auditions in May for Tutti 1st Violin. QSO, Casual Musicians The Queensland Symphony Orchestra supplements full-time players from a pool of casual musicians. Musicians seeking casual work with Queensland Symphony Orchestra are invited to apply by forwarding a covering letter and a copy of a current resume.

	OUR PICKS


	Our favourite upcoming events and performances from our community Camerata – Classique 3 March, Brisbane Classique, brings Camerata together with Australian violinist Jane Peters, in a program that shimmers with classical elegance and refined romanticism. Summer Hill Folk Festival 4 March, Sydney A day of folk and acoustic popular music in the historic Summer Hill Church featuring eleven bands, market stalls and Irish dancing! White Night, Ballart 4 March, Melbourne White Night Ballarat is the first regional White Night, following the success the White Night Melbourne events. White Night is Australia’s contribution to the internationally renowned phenomenon of Nuit Blanche, where cities around the world transform into all-night galleries. European Favourites 5 March, Moggill, QLD Come and share in an intimate performance of European favourites including Schumann, Debussy & Kodaly by internationally acclaimed Concert Pianist Gilbert De Greeve. Arc Electric, Ensemble Offspring 8 March, Melbourne In 2017, Ensemble Offspring is performing music composed exclusively by women. To celebrate International Women’s Day, the country’s leading new music exponents present a dazzling showcase of curious, bold and brilliant compositions by female composers from around the world. In Conversation With Martha Wainwright 12 March, Sydney Singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright will take a break from her Australian tour to participate in this in-depth session with James Valentine in the Opera House Studio as part of the Sydney Opera House’s year-round Talks and Ideas program.