ORIGINS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MUSICAL SOCIETY OF GEELONG Inc.

​

​​

In 1964 the Geelong Youth Centre of the Musical Society of Victoria was founded.

The aims were “To give encouragement and experience to young musicians through public performance and at the same time, provide musical entertainment for the audience”.

On the 21st December 1964, at a special general meeting of the Youth Centre of the Musical Society of Victoria, the following resolutions were passed-

1. That the Geelong Youth Centre of the Musical Society of Victoria, become the Musical Society of Geelong.

2. That the Musical Society of Geelong affiliate with the Musical Society of Victoria on the payment of 10 pounds per annum.

The first committee was elected with Roger Heagney as President, Margeurite Brand as Secretary and Peter Larson as Treasurer. Dr.Ian Brand was asked to arrange the Constitution and Memorandum and Barbara Pigdon  MBE became involved as a Committee member.

The Society decided its first necessity was the purchase of a good piano to be permanently housed in a suitable hall. A concert by the Australian Boys Choir was sponsored on 20th March 1965 in the GAMA Plaza Theatre.

Councilor Frank Moore gave the newly formed Musical Society the sum of 100 pounds which was invested. As time went on, grand pianos were acquired by the Geelong Cultural Institute, City Hall and later the Austin Gray Centre and Morrison Hall. As this priority was no longer acute, the money, with Councilor Moore’s permission, was held in a Reserve interest bearing account to assist with Scholarships and Public Concert promotions.

The Musical Society of Geelong eventually seceded from the Musical Society of Victoria. It was not practicable to be travelling to Melbourne, and the Society grew so rapidly with much happening in the Geelong region.

From 1965 to the present time, regular house concerts, youth concerts, seniors concerts, the Annual Spring concert and annual scholarships have been held.

The first concert in 1965 was held on the 3rd February in the new YWCA Hall. The performers were Vincent Edwards, violin, who had recently returned to Geelong after studying for 6 years in New York at the Julliard School of Music. Graham Hair, piano, Hartley Newnham, piano, Daphne Nielson, soprano and Peter Webb, oboe, also performed.

The Musical Society of Geelong continued to flourish, with the enthusiasm of a small committee and music lovers, who supported the Society with financial backing as members and enthusiastic audiences.

Past Presidents have included Roger Heagney, Hartley Newnham, Len Coleman, Stephen Brockman, Jim Casey, Graeme King, Marcelle Menzel, Kristine Mellens, Tim Furness and  Fiona Squires.

A Youth Group, led by Judith Gavin and Prue Fairhead, aimed to form instrumental groups – trios and duos and one quintet. Stephen Brockman and Margaret Hair followed as youth organisers and Margaret Hair worked very hard to instigate the Annual Scholarships.

In 1968, Dame Joan Hammond accepted an invitation to become a patron of the Society and subsequently was guest speaker at a dinner arranged by the Society. Councilor Frank Moore and George Logie-Smith OBE, were also invited and became patrons.

In 1969 it was decided to try promoting an annual concert through Musica Viva. The concert was a disaster, as was the next attempt. Feedback stated that Geelong audiences were not interested in fully professional concerts, and unless the Society received underwriting or funding, this was not to be attempted again. The Society would concentrate on the wealth of local talent and assisting those young musicians.

In 1970 Jim Casey and Luke Schouten formed a Youth Band and Youth String Group, which were very successful ventures with excellent performances at Youth Concerts.

In 1971 the first music Scholarships were awarded. Four scholarships of $100 each were awarded to David Perkins -  cello, Susan West - flute, Robyn Scott - vocal and Janine Sowden - piano. Halinka de Tarjinska was the first adjudicator.  They have been awarded most years to date and a complete list of winners can be found on the Scholarship web page.

Some names which have won the scholarship and have become outstanding successful musicians include:   Janine Sowden, Michael Wise, Peter Edwards, Kristine Mellens, Heather McKenzie, Dennis Walter, Gary Ekkel, Helen Adams, Loretta Little, Cheryl Barker, Peter Coleman-Wright, Michelle Roy, Miranda, Cecelia, Rosalind and Katherine Brockman. All monies have been donated by businesses or individuals of Geelong and continue to be held each year.

In 1972 the Musical Society became a section of GAMA, the Geelong Association of Music and Art.

In 1981, the Musical Society and GAMA arranged a Public Concert in the Ford Theatre as part of the GAMA Music Festival, to celebrate the opening of the new GPAC. The Musical Society all arranged Music in the Foyer for 3 years giving many musicians performing experience and delighting patrons before performances. The Spring Concerts were also an annual event as were organising benefit concerts for young musicians before going overseas such as Peter Coleman-Wright and Cheryl Barker, Janine Sowden, Wendy Rechenberg, Helen Adams, Kathleen Connell.

Since then, many youth concerts and the Scholarships have provided performance experience and material assistance to many students of Geelong. As we enter our 60th year, we do so with the knowledge we have a place in Geelong’s Musical life to assist young musicians and give pleasure to our audiences.