Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
The University of Sydney Library acknowledges that our buildings, collections, and practices exist on unceded Aboriginal lands. We recognise the diversity and knowledges of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students across all the lands the University stands on, and respect the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have to these lands, their cultural practices, knowledge systems and histories. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, who have handed down custodianship to each generation for more than 60,000 years.
Money, J. (2021). Yilabara (Now). Filmed on Gadigal Country. Commissioned by the University of Sydney Library
Dzô! SCM Jazz in Vietnam, 2022 & 2023 exhibition and concert
Six musicians on stage in front of an audience
Exhibition
For the past two years, a group of outstanding Sydney Conservatorium of Music jazz students have travelled to Hanoi in October to spend a week in residence at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. The trip is organised by Dr Steve Barry, Program Lead for Jazz at the Conservatorium and multi-award winning pianist, Hammond organist, composer and improviser.
During this trip, students engage in a series of workshops, masterclasses and collaborative ensembles with Vietnamese peers, alongside an immersive itinerary of art, music and cultural activities.
The partnership reached new heights in 2023, featuring a sold-out show in the Academy’s 800-seat Grand Concert Hall in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Australia-Vietnam diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the Academy’s jazz department.
The display Dzô! SCM Jazz in Vietnam, 2022 & 2023 celebrates both the Conservatorium’s work in Vietnam in recent years and the expanding community of musicians working at the intersection of traditional and contemporary approaches to music making between Australia and Vietnam – where improvisation, notated and historical practice collide in emergent, co-creative new art.
This exhibition will be on from Friday 22 March until Wednesday 29 May 2024.
Dr Steve Barry installing the 'Dzô! SCM Jazz in Vietnam, 2022 & 2023 exhibition' at the Conservatorium of Music Library
Concert
In addition to the exhibition, a concert was held on Thursday 18 April at the Conservatorium. The concert drew an audience of over 100 individuals, including the Consul General of Vietnam and his wife. Anna Reid, the Dean of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, commenced the event by offering an Acknowledgment of Country and introducing the proceedings. Live music blending traditional and contemporary genres from both Australia and Vietnam filled the air.
During the concert, Dr Steve shared insights from his research and recounted his recent trip to Vietnam with his students. The audience was captivated by the beautiful performances and deeply appreciated the performers' skillful execution and evident passion for music. Moreover, they marveled at the musicians' exploration of the fusion between Eastern and Western musical traditions.
Philip Kent, the University Librarian, expressed gratitude for the collaboration between the Conservatorium and the Library, extending thanks to all attendees and contributors to the concert's success. He also extended an invitation to explore the exhibition and indulge in Vietnamese-style catering, making the evening truly delightful for all involved.
The concert was recorded and is available to view below and on YouTube.
Performers at the Dzô! concert at the Conservatorium of Music
Speakers and performers from the Dzô! concert including Sydney Conservatorium of Music Head of School and Dean, Conservatorium students and Faculty, musicians, University Librarian, Library staff and University staff representing the Sydney Vietnam Institute with dignitaries from the Consulate General of Vietnam