School Engagement
Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) is committed to making our university more accessible to our community. Our degrees open the door to career opportunities in Australia and overseas, preparing your students with the skills and knowledge to ensure your students are work-ready when they graduate.
We run a number of activities to engage high school students that will help prepare them for a music or theatre degree at CQUniversity. These activities:
- are fun, engaging and educational programs
- allow students to meet and work with CQCM staff and current students
- prepare students with the skills and knowledge to ensure they are work-ready when they graduate
- open the door to career opportunities in Australia and overseas.
Four key initiatives lead by the CQCM include:
- Conservatorium Academy
- Schools Jazz Festival
- Musical Theatre Summer School
- Safety Circus
- Choices Applied Theatre Project
What is the Summer Spectacular?
CQCM's Summer Spectacular offers performers the opportunity to hone their theatre skills in an intensive, one week program, under the guidance of a professional music theatre director and award-winning staff from Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music.
Suitable for: High school students aged 12 - 18 years
Cost: $295 per student
When will it run?
The Theatre Summer Spectacular workshops will be scheduled throughout the day (Monday to Friday) from 10 am to 4 pm. You can choose to audition for solo parts, or just be part of the fun in the ensemble. Learn and perform songs and dances from this iconic production.
Workshops will be held 8th – 12th January with a concert on Friday 12 January, 7pm.
2024 Production and Guest Director: Jess Purdy
Dancer, actor, vocalist and Music Theatre teacher Jess Purdy will put participants through their paces dancing, singing and acting their way to a one act version of High School Musical in a 1 week intensive Summer School. We are very excited to bring experienced theatre professional Jess Purdy to work with the young people in our region during the summer holidays. Jess is the Head of the Australian Youth Talent Academy in Brisbane and has extensive experience working with students aged 6 - 18 years. Jess works with over 400 students a year and has established 6 new branches of the Australian Youth Talent Academy across Australia. As a Skills Development Trainer, Jess has worked with students aged from 18-25, introducing them to industry professionals and covering relevant topics outside of regular practical skills such as Agent information, CVs, contracts, awards and being a contractor.
When is the concert held?
The Summer Spectacular concert is open to the public and will feature the participating students.
Entry to the concert is FREE.
Date: Friday, 12th January.
Time: 7pm
Venue: CQCM Theatre, Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Building 21
Register now through our 2024 CQCM Music Theatre Summer School eform.
For more information contact CQCM.
Add the CQCM Music Theatre Summer School event to your Outlook calendar
The Conservatorium Academy is a centre for creative and performing arts training for school-age children in Central Queensland.
Conservatorium Academy Aims
The aims of the Conservatorium Academy is to provide music and theatre training as an extension to the dance, drama and music classes that young people may already be engaged in and provides them with:
- opportunities to perform through regular concerts and special events in Mackay
- a bridge for secondary school students to university
- help to prepare them for auditions and for the rigours of university study
- a safe, educational and recreational environment, with high-energy, fun classes that are taught in a friendly and encouraging environment.
How to enrol your child
To enrol your child contact the Conservatorium Academy or phone +61 7 4940 7800.
Safety Circus
The Safety Circus Applied Theatre project is an award-winning project from CQCM in partnership with the Crime Prevention Unit of the Queensland Police Service. It is a 30-minute theatre show aimed at Year 3 students to teach them about personal safety, safety on non-motorised transport and dealing with bullying. Created by students and staff from CQCM, the Safety Circus tours to Mackay primary schools each year in February.
Choices applied theatre project
To find out more about the award-winning Choices project visit our Choices site.
