Construction Begins January 2024!

We have been dreaming of a purpose-built music education and performance facility since the very beginning. Now that time has come! After 30 years of continuous expansion, the Orange Regional Conservatorium has grown far beyond its current physical capabilities. With over 40 professional musicians, teachers and administrative staff, but only 18 teaching studios and no dedicated rehearsal spaces, the need for a new building has become crucial.

This project, driven and supported by Orange City Council and designed by Ian Brewster of Brewster Hjorth Architects will see this education, arts and science facility completed within the next 2 years. Situated within the same block as the Orange Regional Gallery, Museum, Library and Civic Theatre, it will complete the Orange Cultural Precinct, becoming a hub of arts and entertainment in the Central West.

We are very pleased to announce that as of October 2023, the full costs of construction have been secured, a builder appointed and construction due to begin January 2024.

Recital Hall

The showpiece of the building will be a 280-seat recital hall designed from the ground-up around music performance, in what we believe will be one of the best acoustic spaces, and one of the only purpose built music venues west of the Blue Mountains.

Teaching Studios

Comfortable, light-filled and purpose built spaces for individual and group instruction. Not only will all of our current staff have their own studio, but there will be plenty of room for future growth. The design detail has incorporated the specific needs of instruments such as percussion, brass and voice for example, to make the acoustics, sound-proofing and size as appropriate as possible.

Rehearsal Rooms

Much thought has gone into the allocation of space for ensemble and choral rehearsals, both large and small. This will allow for multiple rehearsals to occur concurrently independent of teaching and performance spaces.

There has also been great attention paid to the the size of the large rehearsal space, ensuring that it is of a similar dimension to recital hall stage. We hope that these rehearsal spaces will also become a valued resource for the community ensembles, bands and choirs of Orange.

Dedicated Spaces

Along with teaching studios and rehearsal spaces, the ORC building will also include a dedicated early childhood music room, musicianship classroom, sheet music library, office spaces and staff areas. All fit for purpose, music and administration spaces and flexible enough for future expansion. The recital hall will similarly have dedicated backstage facilities, such as greenrooms, amenities, technical storage and more.

Planetarium

To learn more about the planetarium component of this project, please visit southernskies.com.au

Do you have a question about this project?

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