Welcome to Wollongong Conservatorium
Positive Change Through Music

Key Funders
& Sponsors

The commitment and generosity of our grant funders and sponsors has enabled WollCon to bring about positive change through music.

Key
Funders

NSW Government

Wollongong Conservatorium of Music is funded by the NSW Government through the Regional Conservatorium Grants Program. Core funding from this grant program supports WollCon’s activities, but particularly our Music In Schools Program, Schools Band Programs and the Music Teachers we place in schools to deliver classroom music lessons.

WollCon was awarded project grants through Create NSW. One grant supported the Enigma Quartet to be in residence at WollCon (throughout 2023) and Chroma Quartet (2024). These residencies build on the success of the Hot Potato Band’s residency in 2022 also supported by Create NSW.
WollCon also received a Creative Capital Award to improve the facilities in our Single Story Building – particularly for people with access requirements. These works were undertaken in 2023/2024.

WollCon also acknowledges the NSW Government Office for Regional Youth ‘Holiday Break Program’ for their support of BlueScope Youth Orchestra’s Regional Tour (in 2022).

University of Wollongong Australia

WollCon has received financial support from the University of Wollongong through their UOW Local Program. Funds have been used to develop the Junior Strings and Community Music Programs, as well as other regional outreach programs.

We are also grateful for UOW’s in-kind support enabling the WollCon Chamber Choir to rehearse on university grounds each week.

We look forward to a continued relationship with UOW and a shared vision of bringing positive change to a community through music.

Wollongong City Council

WollCon is located in the beautiful Wollongong Botanic Garden, in buildings leased from Wollongong City Council and often benefits from project grants to support our work, particularly with community ensembles. We are grateful to Wollongong City Council for their ongoing commitment to the future sustainability of WollCon.

Creative Partnerships Plus 1 Program

WollCon benefitted from a Creative Partnerships Plus 1 Program grant in 2021/2022. The program boosts the fundraising efforts of not-for-profit arts organisations with a dollar-for-dollar matched donation program. The WollCon fundraising campaign called ‘Musical Futures’ raised over $15k from individual donors whose donations were matched dollar for dollar by Creative Partnerships. The donations directly supported the 50th Birthday Year of WollCon in 2022 through the commissioning of new works, a weekend long festival and four major celebratory concerts throughout the year.

Thanks also to the Merrigong Theatre Company (IPAC), operators of the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, who have supported our program through their Community Grants Program, enabling us to access the amazing Wollongong Town Hall for our performance program and large-scale participative events.

Our
Sponsors

BlueScopeWIN Community Partners

Bluescope is the title sponsor of the BlueScope Youth Orchestra and we receive a grant from the BlueScopeWIN Community Partners program to support the Orchestra’s ongoing activities. The relationship between BlueScope and the Youth Orchestra celebrated 35 years in 2020.

Interested in future projects?

Sign up to our e-news to receive all the latest info on programs, events and general happenings around WollCon.

What's On
@ WollCon

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 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 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 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 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 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.