New England Conservatorium

IMPROVISATION Workshop Wednesday 18 June 2025, 5:30pm-7pm: tips and techniques for easy pathways to improvising over a 12-bar blues and other popular jazz songs. JAZZ STYLING workshop Thursday 26 June 2025, 5:30-7:00pm: Tips and techniques for approaching style and phrasing in jazz singing. JAZZ STYLING Thursday 26 June 2025, 5:30pm-7pm Tips and techniques for approaching style and phrasing in jazz singing. Both workshops are open to singers and instrumentalists (bring your instrument). All ages welcome. Only 16 spots available. Cost: $40 for one workshop, $60 for both workshops

Achieve your personal best! Blitz your HSC Music written exams and achieve your personal best in the upcoming HSC trial and written exams at NECOM’s annual Music Bootcamp on Tuesday 24 June. Presented by experienced HSC music teachers and markers, the HSC Music Bootcamp offers parallel sessions so students can choose the topics that best suit their needs. The day includes informative sessions sharing written exam techniques, samples of best-practice Q&A responses and free take-home study notes.

Presented in association with Musica Viva Australia: After 30 years of headlining New York, Japan and Europe to sold-out performances at most of the world’s top jazz venues and festivals, international recording and touring artist Nicki Parrott celebrates her return home to “slow down and chill out” with her exceptional  Northern Rivers Band.  Feelin’ Groovy is a musical tribute to the “Swinging Sixties” presented by a world-class ensemble. Fun for all ages!  ARTISTS Nicki Parrott Acoustic bass, electric bass and vocal Steve Russell Piano/keyboard Dave Sanders Drums Mal Wood Trumpet/flugelhorn Shane Hannan Trombone Martha Baartz Sax/flute ACCESSIBILITY: Please note - Unfortunately Armidale Teachers' College Auditorium, the venue of this exciting performance, is currently not accessible to patrons who have accessibility requirements. This is an issue currently being addressed by NECOM as the tenant of this beautiful building with NSW Department of Education.

New England Conservatorium's Woolshed Series presents spectacular springtime concerts in three iconic woolsheds to celebrate the New England's unique identity and rich cultural heritage, past and present. Join NECOM in its 20th anniversary year for this unforgettable series that showcases both our region's wealth of musical talent and the impressive pastoral heritage of the New England.

This special event is open to all established Trumpet players, with a focus on Modern and Baroque Trumpet technique and performance skills. All attendees should bring their Trumpet (or Cornet) in order to participate collectively in the Masterclass. Printed ensemble music will be provided for all musicians.

Instrumental and Singers Combo Workshop: 6:15pm-7:30pm WED. 13th November Run-through and Concert: 6:15pm-7:30pm THURS. 21st November 6 places only! Bring your song charts to a session where you get to play with a professional jazz/pop/rnb group consisting of piano, bass, guitar and drums. Under the guidance and mentorship of singer and band leader Sharny Russell, work through your chart with the combo, and also learn from watching the other players do the same. A week later, rehearse your song(s) and perform in front of your family and friends in a small private concert at NECOM This is an invaluable opportunity for instrumentalists. Learn the skills needed to rehearse and perform with a band. Each participant will have communicated their song choices to Sharny by email, and will receive help with appropriate keys, preparing the chart, and any other assistance required before the workshop. Ideal for 16 years+ to Adults Cost: $150 Closing date for admission: 4 November 2024

This workshop is for singers and instrumentalists. Bring your instrument. Sharny will teach you some simple strategies for finding musical melody lines over chord changes, beginning with shorter ideas, and building to longer ones. Sharny will take you through some wonderful rhythmic and melodic exercises to build some foundations, then help you to find confidence in your aural skills. Every person at the workshop will have a chance to go it alone if they want, as we pass the baton every 4 or 8 bars.

6 Exercises for Jazz Singers and more! Sharny Russell has produced a succinct set of exercises borne out of her many years teaching jazz voice at Qld Conservatorium, Elder Conservatorium and The Jazz Institute. These exercise are designed to free up the jazz articulation and agility, build in scatting phraseology, as well as train quick intonation skills necessary for scat singing, as well as faster lyrics in jazz songs. As well as helping with jazz phrasing, these exercises also develop breath control and work your whole vocal range.

NECOM’s Composition Workshop offers an invaluable opportunity for music students to develop their composition skills in preparation for their core or elective HSC compositions. The workshop is presented by leading composer Luke Byrne who specialises in teaching HSC composition music students. This workshop is aligned with the NSW Education Standards syllabi for Music 1, Music 2 and Extension.

SINGERS COMBO WORKSHOP 5:30pm-7:30pm WED. 8th NOVEMBER. RUN-THROUGH & CONCERT ON THE FOLLOWING WEEK, 15th NOVEMBER (5:30pm) 6 places only! Bring your song charts to a session where you get to sing with a professional jazz/pop/rnb group consisting of piano, bass, guitar and drums. Under the guidance and mentorship of singer and band leader Sharny Russell, work through your chart with the combo, and also learn from watching the other singers do the same. A week later, rehearse your song(s) and perform in front of your family and friends in a small private concert at NECOM This is an invaluable opportunity for singers. Learn the skills needed to rehearse and perform with a band. Each participant will have communicated their song choices to Sharny by email, and will receive help with appropriate keys, preparing the chart, and any other assistance required before the workshop. Ideal for 16 years+ to Adults Cost: $150