Ensembles

Ensembles rehearsal typically occur once per week (unless otherwise stated) for various lengths of time. The fee payable for most ensemble/choir participation is $124.05 per 9 week term (inclusive of GST).  See enrolment information and term dates.

Check out our ensembles and choirs below.

Ableton Push Course (DJ Light Pad)

Mondays 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Led by Huw Jones, over the course of one term participants will learn through hands-on activities, how to turn ideas into tracks quickly. Push is a powerful, expressive instrument that gives you hands-on control of an unlimited palette of sounds. Play or step sequence all of your musical ideas. Whether you're playing drums or pitched instruments, Push adapts to your musical needs, with great feeling pads and controls that keep you in the flow. Record everything you play, create variations and try out new combinations to play with song structure. Push captures every move you make into musical ideas that you can recombine to create your song. Get hands-on with your mix using the encoders and adjust levels, pans, and sends with immediate feedback on the display.

Push 2 is equally at home in the studio or on stage. Keep your performances in-the-moment by switching between improvising with loops and playing drums, notes, and chords—all from the same expressive grid of pads. Push is an instrument that puts everything you need to make music in one place—at your fingertips.

Community Blues Band

Wednesdays 6:00pm - 8:00pm

The Community Blues Band aims to bring together students of all ages and levels to enjoy a jam session of blues tunes (think Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker style). Welcoming guitarists, bass players, drummers, pianists, harmonica players, singers and more, the best thing about this ensemble is you can be a beginner or an expert and still jam with ease. Learn a pentatonic scale, improvisation and many more skills! If you are a budding musician that wants to jam in a welcoming and friendly environment, this ensemble is perfect for you! Suitable for students aged 16 and above.

Please note: if your preferred equipment is not included in the following list, please bring your own: vocal microphone, guitar amp, bass amp, drum kit. No guitar pedals allowed.

Flute Choir

Mondays: 6:00pm - 7:00pm

If you play the flute and have reached the level of grade 6 or equivalent, why not consider the Conservatorium Flute Choir? You will play challenging repertoire, develop ensemble techniques, perform at the Con and in the community, and form friendships with like-minded people from school age to retirees. Open to all ages who have acquired level grade 6 and above.

Intermediate String Ensemble

Tuesdays 4:00pm - 5.30pm

This orchestra offers the next stage in string orchestra playing. For Grades 3-6, players are introduced to more advanced aspects of ensemble playing and the repertoire includes a range of colourful pieces for string orchestra. Students must be school aged from Year 6 and above to be eligible for this orchestra.

Junior String Ensemble

Tuesdays 4:00pm - 5.00pm

This ensemble offers training in the rudiments of ensemble playing and musicianship and is open to school aged children and covers Grades 1 - 3.

Percussion Ensemble

Wednesdays 4:15pm - 5:15pm

The Conservatorium Percussion Ensemble nurtures percussionist's performance skills through a variety of small ensemble works. Members are required to have a fundamental rhythmical understanding of either tuned or un-tuned percussion instruments. Percussionists who specialise in un-tuned percussion (drum kit) are highly encouraged to consider this group. Rehearsals are musically rewarding and enjoyable, particularly for those who are interested in refining their performance and ensemble skills. This ensemble is open to school aged children.

Newcastle Pops Raucoustra

Mondays 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Welcoming all school aged musicians of any ability that want to put their ‘at home’ practice to work in a fun environment. Performing everything from popular music to well-known classical works, beginner to intermediate musicians have an opportunity to rehearse and perform a diverse array of music in a setting intended to encourage an ongoing relationship with their instrument. This is a great way to meet other musicians and enjoy making music. You'll play lots of music you like and have a great time getting better at your instrument!  All instruments including Brass, Woodwinds, Strings, Percussion, Voice, Rhythm Section are welcome.