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Creative Jazz Workshop

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Event Details
Join us for an inspiring 4 days at Wollongong’s Creative Jazz Workshop for young women and gender diverse musicians!

The Creative Jazz Workshop is all about connection, creativity, and community. Whether you’re a beginner on your instrument or already gigging, this is a safe and supportive space to explore jazz, meet like minded players, form bands, and make long lasting musical friendships.

Lucy Clifford Bass

The workshop will be led by some of Sydney and Wollongong’s leading improvisers, performers and educators:

Freyja Garbett – pianist, composer, producer
Hilary Geddes – guitarist, composer, bandleader
Lucy Clifford – bassist, educator, bandleader.

The aim of the workshop is to help young women and gender diverse musicians find each other in their local area, and support the creation of new bands. The tutors hope to build confidence and musicianship of the students through jazz and improvisation, offer a nurturing space for parents and carers to learn how to support young musicians, and provide resources and connections for rehearsal spaces, transport, and performance opportunities.

What’s Included

– Daily Workshops: Instrument sectionals, ensemble work, improvisation & jazz theory workshops
– Delicious local catering
– Live Performances: From faculty, along with jam sessions
– Mentorship & Advice: Learn how to audition for tertiary music degrees, get gig ready, and build your artistic identity
– A final performance showcasing each ensemble and our incredible camp leaders

Workshop Details

Music Camp for Young Women & Gender Diverse Musicians
Date: 2–5 October, 2025
Time: 10AM – 4PM each day
Venue: Wollongong Conservatorium of Music
Fee: $300 (bursaries are available – please email [email protected] with bursary expression of interest).

Outdoor Activities

Set within the Wollongong Botanic Garden, the workshop includes plenty of outdoor fun to keep your body and brain balanced!

– Botanic garden walks
– Movement sessions
– Band building activities

Who Should Join

Young women and gender diverse musicians aged approx. 12–18, from beginner to advanced. You don’t need to know jazz already, just bring your curiosity and your instrument!

Further Information: Please contact us at: [email protected]

Jazz Workshop Trio
Let’s Build a Movement!

This is more than just a workshop! It’s the beginning of a local music community that can support and grow with each other well beyond this long weekend. We want to see your bands gigging, jamming, and recording long after the final day at WollCon!

This workshop is generously supported by:

The Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation
Sydney Conservatorium of Music Equity in Jazz Program
Wollongong Conservatorium of Music
Sisters Of Sound Music Collective

WORKSHOP REGISTRATION
Positive Change Through Music

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Wollongong Conservatorium is located on Dharawal country. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, celebrate their continuing culture and the contribution First Nations people make to the life of this region and our country.

We thank our supporters

Wollongong Conservatorium of Music is funded by the NSW Government through the Regional Conservatorium Grants Program

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Dr Sue Savage

Director

Sue is an accomplished and seasoned manager with a wealth of experience in government administration and community service delivery. With a strong background in strategic planning, organisational development, community engagement, project planning, and building strategic partnerships, Sue has consistently demonstrated her leadership and expertise and brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business focusing on Local Government and Creative Industries from the University of Wollongong, reflecting her commitment to public service and innovative leadership. Sue’s extensive career and dedication to community and social service make her a valuable asset, offering both strategic insight and practical experience to drive meaningful impact.

Anne Mowbray

Director

Anne has been a member of the Wollcon Board since 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from UNSW. She is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and an accredited Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. She has taught family law and other subjects at Wollongong University.

For a number of years she has been a subscriber to the Australian Chamber Orchestra which regularly performs in Wollongong . She has been passionate about music and in particular music education to children and adults.

Jake Pearson

Director

Jake has worked in the disability sector for 24 years- 17 of these with Interchange and 7 years as their CEO. Jake is passionate about inclusion and equality for both people with disability and their carers.

He holds an MBA, Bachelor of Commerce, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, as well as completing Diploma’s in Case Management, Community Services Coordination and the AICD Company Directors Course.

Jake is also a committee member on the International Short Breaks Association Board and has been a Director on the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Board since 2022.

Wayne Morris

Director

Wayne is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as being a qualified company secretary and accountant with over 35 years experience in banking and finance. He performed for nine of those years as Chief Executive of IMB Ltd, and the preceding seven years as Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, also with IMB. Wayne’s primary expertise is in the areas of governance, management, accounting, risk management and banking and finance. He has spent his whole life living in the Illawarra and is passionate about ensuring the Illawarra can provide the best possible opportunities and lifestyle for its residents. In 2024 Wayne was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the community.

Dr Terumi Narushima

Deputy Chair

Dr Terumi Narushima is a senior lecturer and Music Discipline Leader at the University of Wollongong. She is a composer, performer and sound designer specialising in microtonal tuning systems. Her works include Tritriadic Chimes, a sound installation for LA MicroFest, Hidden Sidetracks, a composition for custom-made instruments premiered by Ensemble Offspring at Sydney Opera House, and a project to build microtonal flutes using 3D printing. She has worked on theatre collaborations which have been presented nationally and internationally, including Yasukichi Murakami: Through a Distant Lens, Lost in Shanghai, and The Story of Chi. She performs with microtonal ensemble Clocks and Clouds, and her book Microtonality and the Tuning Systems of Erv Wilson is published by Routledge.

Nicky Sloan

Chair

Nicky is the CEO of Community Industry Group. She has degrees in Dementia Care, Community & Environment and Marketing, and a Grad Dip in Project Management. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Honorary Fellow of UOW. In addition to Chairing the WollCon Board, she is Deputy Chair of the Regional Development Australia Illawarra Shoalhaven Board and an Independent Non-Executive Director of Warrigal, a large not-for-profit specialising in the provision of services for older people.

Her corporate governance and strategy experience extends through a 20+ year career on boards in the corporate, government and NFP sectors.