Stories

It’s been a fabulous year at Hume Con!   We’lll start by talking about that, there is important enrolment information and holiday camp information you should also read. 

Year in Review
The year was filled with performance practices, concerts, workshops, masterclasses, performance opportunities, new ensembles, groups and programs. 
 
We grew during the year, we established one new choir and accepted Bridge to sing into the fold. We started a junior concert band and established recorder and junior wind ensembles. 
 
Our existing groups and ensembles also improved, and we did several “all in” combined performances, bringing multiple ensembles together. The Rock Con produced a series of strong performances and new bands, which competed with credit in a state-wide competition, and took out the Lilac Festival Battle of the Bands competition.
 
We were also able to broaden and extend the instruments being taught with new teachers and ensembles. School based tuition and classroom education grew, as did early childhood music.
 
Financially though, it was a tough year. In the 5 years to 2022, our fees fell behind inflation by 12%. The fee increases this year were not enough to get us into the black, and the Board have set some big fundraising goals to keep increases as small as possible. There are lower-cost options we may be able to offer you – especially for younger or less experienced students – so please contact us in the new year if you want to consider these.
 
Our scholarship program this year was very competitive.  We are excited about the group of scholars for next year, and hope you join us in celebrating their success.  But we also want to acknowledge that many students who were worthy of a scholarship were not able to receive one. To them, we say – we were impressed with your auditions, and we hope you will continue to thrive.
 
We were also pleased to offer some tuition awards to students deserving access to our programs – including several young students from refugee families who have recently arrived in Goulburn.  We look forward to seeing them thrive as new members of our Conservatorium community.

Enrolments
Lessons and times will automatically roll over in the new year.  If you have any changes to your enrolment, please complete the form before 15 January 2024. This includes changes to lesson-types, ensembles, lesson times or teachers.  Please also make sure you tell us if students are changing schools, have new medical needs we should know about, and about changes in your contact information. Here is the Enrolment Variation Form. For additional information please see the 2024 Fee Guide.
 
On top of the changes you request, there are some changes in teachers and teacher times, which might mean we contact you about potential time changes. We will work through all changes affecting existing students before enrolling new students – provided that change requests are lodged by the 15^th.  After that date, new enrolments will also be considered.

Thank you for joining us in an awesome year of music making.
From the Hume Con Team have a happy and safe Christmas and we look forward to making music with you in 2024.