Conservatorium High School

Principal: Robert Curry DSCM, GradDipEd, Staz, CertGiftedEd, MMus, MA, PhD

The Conservatorium High School, the State's only specialist music school, was established within the NSW State Conservatorium of Music in 1918 to educate teenagers of outstanding musical intelligence. Through its school-based programs and its collaboration with Sydney University, the School affords gifted students extensive experience and training in all aspects of music, while providing them with a broadly based secondary education.

Located in the Royal Botanic Gardens overlooking Farm Cove, the Conservatorium is one of Sydney's premier historic sites. The heart of 'The Con' is the turreted sandstone structure that was designed by the convict architect, Francis Greenway, to serve as vice-regal stables for Government House, which is located to its north. Extensive redevelopment in the late 1990s has transformed the site into a superb teaching, research and music performance complex.

Unlike other music conservatoria in Australia, 'The Con' has always comprised both a secondary and a tertiary arm. For this foresightful initiative we have to thank Henri Verbrugghen, foundation director of the Conservatorium. Since 1990, the tertiary arm has been under the administrative control of The University of Sydney.