OUR MUSIC 2014
In 2014, I began preparing the second OUR MUSIC event. It was planned to be a three day event, supervised and directed by an Indigenous mentor. An audition process would select 10 soloists, who would then participate in the three days of tutoring with the mentor leading up to a final concert performance. The model of interaction above shows the mentor’s philosophy to be an integral influence on the creative output. Other integral objects are the conventions of the practices, the curriculums the students are enrolled in, the staff, infra structure of the host Institution. Many of these interacting objects were involved in the production of OUR MUSIC ’14. Though at this stage, the clear delineation of each interactive object has not been succinctly defined. The tasks of the researcher/composer/producer were generally my responsibility, though the Indigenous composers of the songs in each case would have the final say in how the collaboration would be presented in the performances at OUR MUSIC ’14. As an assessment course for undergraduate Conservatorium students OUR MUSIC the student would be the researcher/producer of their collaboration with an Indigenous performer-composer.
Yorta Yorta soprano Ms Deborah Cheetham AO was appointed as mentor to OUR MUSIC ’14, giving the program an emphasis of Indigenous vocal performance tutelage. Ms Cheetham is Australia’s eminent Indigenous opera singer, and Associate Dean (Indigenous) at the Faculty of VCA and MCM, University of Melbourne, and Head of the Wilin centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development. Ms Cheetham is also the director of her ‘Short Black Opera Company’. In 2014, Ms Cheetham was appointed as an officer of the order of Australia (AO), for distinguished service to the performing arts as an opera singer, composer and artistic director, the development of indigenous artists and to innovation in performance.
489Harry Daniels, and Kris Gutierrez.(2009) Learning and Expanding with Activity Theory. (New York: Cambridge Universtiy Press, 2009) ,65 ; and 3Engestrom, 237.
