Symposium Theme

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, together with the Australian Centre for Asian Art and Archaeology, is pleased to present a symposium to be held in Sydney, Australia from Thursday 8 April to Saturday 10 April, 2010.


The theme for the Symposium is

Preserving Tradition, Facing the Future in Asian musical and visual cultures

The symposium aims to bring together colleagues from major universities, music conservatories and leading cultural organisations for a stimulating program, with a key focus in bringing insights into areas of research in the preservation, interpretation and translation of traditional arts forms in the face of globalization.

The 2010 Symposium will focus on the survival of traditional arts of China. Papers and presentations on traditional arts from other Asian areas are also welcome. An exhibition of Asian visual arts will form part of the Symposium.

The symposium will include a number of internal and public events:

• Lectures by visiting academics
• Forums on research into the preservation of traditional Asian cultures
• Practical demonstrations of traditional techniques in Chinese music, in particular Chinese nansheng techniques and pidan vocal techniques from Suzhou
• Public recitals
• Public exhibition of Asian visual arts in the Atrium of the Conservatorium, and calligraphy workshops
• Gala concert of traditional Asian music in Verbrugghen Hall, the Conservatorium’s purpose-built concert hall