The University of Tasmania has announced that the Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute – an intesive summer orchestral programme aimed at helping young musicians move into the world of professional music – has been discontinued. For the past decade, AISOI, through the University of Tasmania’s Conservatorium of Music, has provided students with practical experience needed to pursue careers as orchestral musicians. Students would follow an intensive schedule of rehearsals, tutorials, and concerts, working closely with professional musicians, and giving public performances in Hobart.

A statement on AISOI’s webpage and Facebook page, from Professor Kit Wise, director and head of school of the Tasmanian College of the Arts and Associate Professor Andrew Legg, Director of the Conservatorium of Music, asserts that the decision to end the programme is the result of the Conservatorium refocusing its efforts.

“We will maintain our commitment to the delivery of world-class classical music education with strength provided by relationships such as we have with world-renowned Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and University conductor Johannes Fritzsch,” the statement reads. “However, at this time, the Conservatorium’s leaders believe the time is right to refocus the institution’s efforts in building capacity within Tasmania, through greater collaboration with the TSO and Tasmanian Youth Orchestra.”

The news has been met with dismay online, with commenters taking to Facebook to express their confusion and disappointmet at the programme’s axing, several pointing out that unlike the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp – the only equivalent programme in Australia – AISOI didn’t specify an age limit.

The programme’s former Artistic Director, Sydney Symphony Orchestra clarinettist Frank Celata, commenting through the AISOI Facebook page said, “It’s very sad indeed, I had no idea this was coming as I finished as Artistic Director last year and have been out of the loop.”

“This is sad,” commented Jess Porter-Langson. “AISOI was an opportunity like no other, presenting the same quality of music as NMC but with a far more relaxed attitude AND with no age limit. For those who are now too old for NMC, there is no orchestral program for them to participate in or to meet fellow musicians. All of my close musical friends have come from AISOI and this is just another step in the direction of killing of Australian music culture. Someone please start this in another state.”

Another commenter, Joel Roberts questioned the wording of the official statement with regard to the Conservatorium’s future projects. “As a current student at the Conservatorium and Tasmanian resident, I’m curious? What does ‘refocus the institution’s efforts in building capacity within Tasmania’ actually mean?”

An email to Conservatorium staff from Wise, which has been made available to Limelight, suggests that the programme has served its purpose and can therefore be discontinued in favour of new initiatives. “The importance of timing is well known by our organisation – it sits at the very heart of what we do,” Wise wrote. “Eleven years ago, the University of Tasmania created the Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute (AISOI) with the express purpose of elevating our State’s standing on the national classical music stage.”

“We can and should be proud what has been achieved through AISOI,” he wrote, “however, the program has served the purpose for which it was brought into being and, for that reason, a decision has been taken to redirect our energies.”

“Since AISOI was established, we have provided genuinely innovative and outstanding development opportunities to musicians across the country. AISOI’s alumni can be found in the finest orchestras across the nation and the world. Through these ties, the Conservatorium of Music and the University’s standing in classical music circles has been firmly established. Having done so, and with ongoing strength provided by relationships such as we have with world-renowned Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and our esteemed colleague Johannes Fritzsch, we believe the time is right to focus our energies more tightly developing Tasmanian capacity.”

“In the past decade Tasmania’s cultural landscape has shifted dramatically and entirely new fields of discipline, such as digital production have emerged. With the promise created by the delivery of the visionary Hedberg centre for music and the performing arts in 2019, we see a future in which the Conservatorium maintains a strong commitment to traditional forms while building distinctiveness in emerging fields, and between and across academic disciplines.”