An open letter to
The Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for the Arts
Senator Claire Chandler, Shadow Spokesperson for the Arts
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Spokesperson for the Arts
We are writing to express our support for the work of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).
Based in the South Melbourne Town Hall in the federal seat of Macnamara, ANAM is one of Australia’s leading cultural training and performance organisations. ANAM’s unique and internationally-respected vocational training immerses young musicians from across Australia in a program of teaching, coaching, rehearsal and performance that is proven essential preparation for the demanding career of a creative artist. ANAM’s alumni can be found in leadership positions in orchestras and ensembles in Australia and across the globe.
On 18 October 2018 ANAM experienced a catastrophic incident. Two ANAM staff members were lucky to escape with their lives when the roof in the Town Hall collapsed on them. This event launched ANAM on a journey to identify and secure a safe and permanent home, determined never to experience the traumatic events of October 2018 again.
With the provision of a 2019 Commonwealth Government grant acclaimed architect Peter Elliott was commissioned to develop plans that will not only save the Town Hall from further decline but also provide ANAM with its desperately needed home, and the community with a piece of 21st century state-of-the-art, cultural infra-structure.
Whether or not Peter Elliott’s designs can be realised now rests in the hands of the Australian Government.
We urge the Australian government to commit to provide the necessary $12.5M funding over three years – adding to ANAM’s already secured $28M – that will facilitate the realisation of Peter Elliott’s elegant vision for this beautiful but broken building.
In addition to nourishing the Macnamara community, a renewed South Melbourne Town Hall will enable ANAM to continue to enrich the vibrancy, strength and creativity of music-making across the country for generations to come.
We commend this project to you.
Yours sincerely,
Eivind Aadland, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
Affinity Quartet
Neil Armfield AO, Director
Victor Arul, Composer
Australian String Quartet
William Barton, Performer/Composer
Giordano Bellincampi, Music Director, Auckland Philharmonia
Huw Belling, Composer
Aditya Bhat, Percussionist/Composer
Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director, Sydney Dance Company
Lee Bradshaw, Composer
Brenton Broadstock AM, Composer
Brodsky Quartet
Daryl Buckley, Artistic Director, ELISION Ensemble
Ella Caldwell, Artistic Director, Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre
Nicholas Carter, General Music Director, Staatsoper Stuttgart and Staatsorchester Stuttgart
Anne Cawrse, Composer
Kate Champion, Artistic Director, Black Swan State Theatre Company
Andrew Chen, Composer
Lisa Cheney, Composer
Joe Chindamo OAM, Pianist/Composer
Dr David Chisholm, Composer
Jet Kye Chong, Composer
Umberto Clerici, Chief Conductor, Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Tristan Coelho, Composer
James Crabb, Classical Accordionist
Bruce Crossman, Composer
Peter de Jager, Pianist/Composer
Brett Dean, Composer, Conductor and Violist Former ANAM Artistic Director
Paul Dean, Clarinetist/Composer, Former ANAM Artistic Director
Chris Dench, Composer
Nick Deutsch, Oboist, Former ANAM Artistic Director
Connor D’Netto, Composer
Stefan Dohr, Principal Horn and Deputy Member, Board of Trustees, Berlin Philharmonic
Claire Edwardes OAM, Artistic Director and CEO, Ensemble Offspring
Ross Edwards AM, Composer
Melody Eotvös, Composer
Peter Evans, Artistic Director Bell Shakespeare
Associate Professor Ronald Farren-Price AM, Pianist,Former ANAM Artistic Director
Asher Fisch, Principal Conductor and Artistic Director West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Flinders Quartet
Dominic Flynn, Composer
Andrew Ford OAM, Composer, Writer and Broadcaster
Emile Frankel, Composer
Joseph Franklin, Composer
Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood CBE, Principal, Royal Academy of Music, London
Emilie Gardberg, Dean, Sibelius Academy, Helsinki
Professor Anna Goldsworthy, Director, Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide
Dr Tony Gould AM, Pianist/Composer
Paul Grabowsky AO, Pianist/Composer
Iain Grandage, Composer
Thomas Green, Composer
Stuart Greenbaum, Composer
Emma Greenhill, Composer
Nell Greenwood, CEO AFTRS
Maria Grenfell, Composer
Professor Elliott Gyger, Composer
David Hallberg, Artistic Director, The Australian Ballet
Kimbali Harding, CEO, Australian Youth Orchestra
Michael Kieran Harvey, Pianist/Composer
Jonathan Heilbron, Composer
Erin Helyard, Artistic Director, Pinchgut Opera
Helen Herbertson, Choreographer
Professor Matthew Hindson AM, Composer and Deputy Head of School, Deputy Dean, University of Sydney
Ben Hoadley, Composer
Cat Hope, Composer
Liz Hughes, CEO, National Institute of Dramatic Art
Richard Hull, CEO, Flying Fruitfly Circus
Simona Jobbagy, CEO, National Institute of Circus Arts
Paavali Jumppanen, Artistic Director, Australian National Academy of Music
Sel Kardan, President and CEO, Colburn School, Los Angeles
Elena Kats-Chernin AO, Composer
Andrea Keller, Pianist/Composer
Paul Kelly AO, Singer/Songwriter
Gordon Kerry, Composer
Paul Kildea, Artistic Director Musica Viva Australia
Professor Richard Kurth, Director, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne
Pekka Kuusisto, Violinist
Genevieve Lacey, Recorder player
Professor Bernard Lanskey, Director, Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University
James Ledger, Composer
Catherine Likhuta, Composer
Liza Lim AM, Composer
Professor Alan Lourens, Director, Conservatorium of Music, University of Western Australia
May Lyon, Composer
Ella Macens, Composer
Bryony Marks, Composer
Marmen Quartet
Jaime Martín, Chief Conductor, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Anthony Marwood MBE, Violinist
Thomas Meadowcroft, Composer
Members of Australian Chamber Orchestra
Members of Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Members of Opera Australia Orchestra
Members of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Members of Orchestra Victoria
Members of Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Members of Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Members of Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
Members of West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Kate Milligan, Composer
Cathy Milliken, Composer
Richard Mills AO, Composer
Tim Minchin AM, Composer/Singer/Songwriter
Ian Munro, Pianist/Composer
Graeme Murphy AO and Janet Verdon AM, Directors/Choreographers
Nicole Murphy, Composer
Rosalind Page, Composer
John Painter AM, Cellist, Founder of ANAM
Christine Pan, Composer
Penny Quartet
Andrián Pertout, Composer
Peggy Polias, Composer
Susan Provan AO, Director, Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Professor Anna Reid, Dean and Head of School Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney
Kirsty Ritchie, CEO, Australian Ballet School
Jon Rose, Composer
Sophie Rowell, Artistic Director, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra
Christopher Sainsbury, Composer
Carolyn Schofield, Composer
Charlie Sdraulig, Composer
Harry Sdraulig, Composer
Brett Sheehy AO, Artistic Director, Adelaide Festival
Jane Sheldon, Composer
Eli Simić-Prošić, Composer
Lachlan Skipworth, Composer
Margery Smith, Composer
Hollis Taylor, Composer
Kate Tempany, Composer
Richard Tognetti AO, Artistic Director and Lead Violin Australian Chamber Orchestra
Louisa Trewartha, Composer
Alex Turley, Composer
Eugene Ughetti, Percussionist, Artistic Director Canberra Festival
Alexander Voltz, Composer
Kim Walker, CEO, NAISDA Dance College
Mark Wigglesworth, Chief Conductor, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Lyn Williams AM, Artistic Director and Founder Gondwana Choirs
Chris Williams, Composer
James Williams, Director, Royal College of Music, London
Justin Williams, Violist/Composer
Mark Wolf, Composer
Aaron Wyatt, Composer/Conductor
Yitzak Yedid, Composer
Elizabeth Younan, Composer
Miriama Young, Composer
Simone Young AM, Chief Conductor, Sydney Symphony Orchestra