Media Release
NT Music School makes sound contribution to Garma Festival
Thursday 4 August 2005
The NT Music School will make a significant contribution to the five-day Garma Festival near Nhulunbuy, which starts on Friday 5 August.
Four of the school’s teachers - Peter McMeel, Brian Manning, Graham Chadwick and Stewart Kellaway - will run workshops and coordinate student ensemble performances at the festival, which celebrates Yolngu cultural heritage.
NT Music School Principal Nora Lewis said the school, through the Indigenous Music Education Project directed by Graham Chadwick, had been proudly involved in the Festival for the past four years.
“We will provide some musical instruments and sound equipment, run contemporary music workshops and support local music teachers,” she said.
More than that, Mrs Lewis said the Indigenous Music Education Project enabled the NT Music School to make a long-lasting and significant contribution not only to the development of musical talent in northeast Arnhem Land, but also to education generally.
“Each semester our staff visit schools in the region for several weeks to teach students instrumental techniques, song-writing, ensemble musicianship, and recording skills.
“The results of this will be on show for all to see, hear and enjoy at the festival,” she said.
Student musicians from Maningrida, Milingimbi, Gapuwiyak, Galiwingku, Yirrkala, Numbulwar, Ramingining and Umbakumba will perform at the festival, much of which will take place at the Gulkula ceremonial ground, an outdoor site near Yirrkala.
Now in its ninth year, the festival is designed to encourage the practice, preservation and sharing of traditional dance forms, song, art and ceremony.