Nov & Dec 2025 Vol.64 Accelerando Recital VCE Young Artist Development Program - pictured above is Arlo Schwarz Deakin on bass
The Accelerando program is a year long development program for selected VCE music students, including instrumental lessons, concert tickets, industry workshops and professional mentoring. All of their work with various Australian artists came together in December with the Accelerando Recital in the Primrose Potter Salon. Featuring everything from heavy metal to progressive jazz, the evening culminated in a group performance of Esperanza Spalding's Judas. A fantastic celebration of the future of local music! Generously supported by The Peggy and Leslie Cranbourne Foundation Our Community and Creative Engagement Program is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Learning and Access Consortium of supporters: The Hugh Williamson Foundation, Mrs Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM, The Canny Quine Foundation, The Marian and E.H. Flack Trust, The Hon Justice Michelle Gordon AC KC & The Hon Kenneth M Hayne AC KC, The Sentinel Foundation, Graeme and Angelina Wise, the Peggy & Leslie Cranbourne Foundation and an anonymous donor. We also extend our sincere thanks to those donors whose support is directed to individual programs: Mrs Margaret Ross AM and Dr Ian Ross, Margaret Lawrence Bequest, The Vizard Foundation, Gailey Lazarus Charitable Foundation, Jane Kunstler, an anonymous donor, and the Victorian Department of Education through the Strategic Partnerships Program.
Community & Creative Engagement Nov & Dec 2025 Choir 3006 Lunchtime singing sessions for Southbank
The perfect way to celebrate our community coming together to make music, Choir 3006 in Concert was a December highlight, featuring over 50 performers in the Primrose Potter Salon. There was not a spare seat in the house, with audiences enjoying new Australian carols and some Christmas classics. Generously supported by Jane Kunstler
Renee Heron leading Choir 3006 in the end-of-year concert in Primrose Potter Salon
Free Music Day-time Open Rehearsals
Music in Motion artists performing in Free Music
MRC audiences were treated to two very special Free Music events in November and December. Our new Director of Programming Iain Grandage AM took to the (foyer) stage with cello in hand in November, captivating patrons with recent Australian compositions. In December, disabled artists from Your Creative DNA's Music in Motion group celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities in a Free Music performance using their intricate Sound Tree.
Accelerando Reunion VCE Young Artist Development Program
In what has become an annual tradition, we welcomed back Accelerando alumni to join us for the end-of-year Recital and dinner afterwards. The program is now in its 11th year and has supported over 50 artists who have gone on to study and perform music professionally all across the world. It is so wonderful to welcome them back as part of the Accelerando family. Accelerando is supported by The Peggy and Leslie Cranbourne Foundation
Accelerando Alumni Reunion attendees
Community & Creative Engagement Nov & Dec 2025
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Bold Stage Supports and showcases underrepresented emerging musicians
Partnering with Monash University's SensiLab, In The Round was a proud Bold Stage presentation in December, showcasing disabled artists working alongside Monash percussion students. The collaboration was an experimental exploration of sound, movement and audience participation. The piece was the result of a year of training and workshops. Generously supported by the Margaret Lawrence Bequest and an anonymous donor
In The Round artists Melinda Smith, Nicole Tsourlenes and Brenton Ponza with Monash percussion students
Accelerando Auditions VCE Young Artist Development Program
November saw one of our favourite events in the Primrose Potter Salon, with a number of hopeful young musicians auditioning for a place in the 2026 Accelerando program. Travelling into Melbourne from all across the state, the Salon was filled with jazz, musical theatre and selections from the Romantic era. Joining Seth Raudam and Arianna Krebs in 2026 are four new Accelerando musicians: Milly Ruffo on electric bass Matilda Wilby with voice Tristan Morrison on piano Nora Trujillo Mendez with voice
Community & Creative Engagement Nov & Dec 2025
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Making Waves VCE Composer Development Program
A highlight of our Young Artist Development program calendar is Making Waves, a partnership program with Virtual School Victoria. Celebrating the next generation of composers, VCE students have their major compositions brought to life by the best musicians in Australia through mentoring sessions, rehearsals and soundchecks. All of this November preparation culminates in the December world premiere of several works through a livestream concert from Primrose Potter Salon. Generously supported by the Victorian Department of Education, through the Strategic Partnership Program
Making Waves Mentoring Sessions and Livestream Concert with (clockwise): Flinders Quartet, Tamara Murphy, Tim Dargaville, Tim Nikolsky, Lachlan Davidson, Jethro Curtin, Ainslie Wills, Gabrielle Ward, Kate Schmidli, Stuart Greenbaum, Andrea Lam and Melbourne Saxophone Quartet