New England Conservatorium of Music

The New England Conservatorium works across a number of regional and remote nations in the New England and North West areas of NSW. We acknowledge the traditional custodians, storytellers and musicians of the lands on which we work and perform, and pay respect to elders past, present and emerging.

New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM) enables young people across Armidale and the New England region to access quality musical education opportunities within the grand spaces of the heritage listed Armidale Teachers’ College building.

The establishment of the Conservatorium in 2003 can be attributed to the commitment and dedication of a community of supporters, initially under the leadership of the late Dr Arthur Rickards OAM, who chaired the NECOM Board for its first ten years. Dr Rickards was a driving force in establishing that the organisation be recognised as one of the leading regional conservatoriums in New South Wales.

New England Conservatorium of Music Ltd is a not-for-profit company (limited by guarantee) run by a volunteer Board of Directors. The community’s ongoing support for NECOM has included the leadership provided by our Board Members and the commitment of many other supporters who have contributed towards the Conservatorium being recognised as a centre for excellence in regional musical education for almost twenty years.

Offering a comprehensive range of musical courses and classes onsite and online, the Conservatorium’s team of professional staff and music teachers work in collaboration with local primary and secondary schools across the region to create new opportunities for students to access high-quality music education and experiences outside the school classroom.

NECOM’s ongoing partnerships with regional music groups and festivals such as the Armidale Youth Orchestra, Armidale Symphony Orchestra, Musica Viva Armidale and the Regional Youth Orchestra enable students, parents, staff and community to discover the joys of musical performances.

NECOM’s outstanding programs have received significant recognition with the 2013 national APRA/AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in Music Education for New England Sings!, the 2014 Armidale Dumaresq Council Australia Day Cultural Award and the 2015 APRA Art Music Award for Excellence in a Regional Area.

NECOM is a member of the statewide network of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums – providing extensive music education services that encompass specialist instrumental and vocal training through to curriculum support in music for government schools and music performances in regional NSW.

NECOM is supported by the NSW Government Department of Education through its Regional Conservatorium Grants Programs.