100 years of music education is no Con

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music celebrates its centenary in May: how has elite music training changed in 100 years?
[This is archived content and may not display in the originally intended format.]

Staff and students outside the Con, 1916. Photo: State Library of New South Wales.

Based in the former stables of old Government House, a crenelated, castle-like structure designed by convict architect Francis Greenway, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music – affectionately known as ‘the Con’ – has launched the careers of countless musicians since hosting its first classes on 6 March 1916, with around 320 students.

Unlock Padlock Icon

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts