Scotch College

Opening of James Forbes Academy, School of Music

It was years in the planning and execution, but finally the day arrived. In the weeks preceding 8 August, the phones and fax machine ran hot as hundreds of Scotch family members responded excitedly to their invitation to attend the opening of the Music School. Plans were made and changed as the numbers grew, and caterers groaned under the weight of ever expanding demands on food and drink.

The excitement reached its peak as the crowds began to arrive and wonder at the transformation that had taken place over the preceding weeks. Gone were the fences and barricades surrounding the new garden area, and instead a sweeping open space of lawns, trees and paths presented itself. New planting added a splash of colour as the afternoon crept on and special floodlights worked their magic on the outside of the Memorial Hall and Chapel as well as the Academy itself.

Inside, the Music School burst into life with wonderful performances taking place in six different locations as more than seven hundred people strolled through and looked and listened.

The ladies of the Music Auxiliary provided information and commentary on the various features of the building, while music staff gave demonstrations of some of the technical aspects, such as the computer composition rooms.

It was above all, however, the musicians themselves who made the building come alive and showed the enormous potential which now presents itself to the staff and students at Scotch.

The formal opening ceremony took place on the entry steps of the Music School, on a balmy and relatively windless evening. More than five hundred supporters of the school stayed to hear Campbell McComas, President of the Foundation, welcome the gathering and introduce the speakers, and offer his own thanks to all those who have contributed in whatever way to the successful completion of Stage One of the Academy. Chairman of the Council, Michael Robinson AO, congratulated the foresight and courage of the Council in tackling this stunning project, while emphasising the debt of gratitude the School owes to all donors. He pointed out the heritage of benefaction to Scotch College which has provided so many facilities for the students over so many years; and he pointed out how the Academy will become part of the current generations' legacy to those who follow after.

The Principal congratulated all associated with the project and indicated the ways in which the Music School is already becoming a part of the all-round curriculum for the students, and foreshadowed the importance of Stage Two of the project and the benefits this will bring to the entire School. Director of Music, John Ferguson, also stressed the huge benefits which the Music School is already bringing to everyone who works within the building.

Guest of Honour was Warren Bebbington, Ormond Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Music at the University of Melbourne - and one time resident tutor at McMeckan House.

Amongst his witty recollections of music at school, Professor Bebbington wove a compelling argument for the promotion of music and the performing arts in general, and advocated as much student involvement in music as possible. He praised the achievements of the architect (Garry Martin) and builders (ADCO) and the remarkable quality of the building - as well as the performances he had been able to hear while walking through earlier in the evening.

The future of music at Scotch looks assured and everyone looks forward to the development of Stage Two and the completion of the Schools of Drama and Communication.

Captain of Music, Allen Wang, presented Professor Bebbington with a commemorative gift and thanked him for officially opening the Music School. He then invited everyone once again to enter the building and enjoy what has already become a wonderful part of Scotch at Work.

It was a wonderful occasion, marked not only by the large numbers attending and affirming their support of Scotch and the Arts, but by the warmth of feeling in evidence at every turn in the building. As Campbell McComas said in his introduction, the completion of this stage of the James Forbes Academy Project marks an important linking of so many parts of Scotch College now: the mind (in the Quadrangle), the body (on the Main Oval), the spirit (in the Chapel), the soul (in the Academy) and the 'open heart' of the School in the beautiful new garden area. There is no room for complacency, though, as the challenge of Stage Two now lies before us, and all the excitement that the final completion of the project will bring.

Alan Watkinson
Director of Development