Professor Robert Constable awarded AM for service to music education

Professor Robert Constable's honour is for significant service to music education, to performance, and to composition.

Surprised to be acknowledged, the man known as "Prof" or the "Boss" has had an incredible career, which saw him become Dean of the Newcastle Conservatorium and Dean of Faculty of Music at the University of Newcastle.

He has also taken his skills abroad working as the Head School of Music, University of Auckland, New Zealand, visiting professor of Music and Consultant, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and later chair, head of Music Schools Australia.

"I have been so fortunate to be able to find my star and follow it," he said.

"And I got good enough at it, I guess that I reached the point where institutions were prepared to pay me a salary to do what I loved doing.

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"What a life - it's fantastic to be able to do what you love and get paid for it."

Now 73, he started playing piano as a three or four-year-old but did not fully pursue his musical aspirations until he was aged 20.

"My parents, who came through the depression, did not see music as a viable career, particularly for a man, who is supposed to be the breadwinner," he said.

"They saw it as a big risk and I can't blame them for not wanting to see their son as a musician.

"The depression for them, was I suppose similar to what we have experienced in the last 12 months or so with COVID.

"But when I decided irreducibly that it was what I wanted to do, they supported me."

He attended the Conservatorium of Sydney and upon graduation was immediately offered a job there where he stayed for nine years.

He then ventured north to Newcastle, to head up a "small branch of the conservatorium", devoting the next 22 years to build up that small branch into a "formidable school of music in it's own right" that went on to be part of the Newcastle University.

He took up the role of Deputy Dean, 1990-1994, Dean of Faculty of Music, 1995-2001 and Dean of Newcastle Conservatorium, 2002-2005.

In 2007 he moved to New Zealand taking up the position of Head School of Music, University of Auckland to "build up that music program" until 2012.

When Christchurch was devastated by earthquakes he relocated to become the visiting Professor of Music and Consultant, University of Canterbury for two years.

"Wherever I go I seem to have to build up, restrengthen or restart music programs," he said.

"Having that passion for music and what I was doing it wasn't hard work.

"It was a challenge and a real pleasure."

About nine years ago he retired to Kangaroo Valley after having holidayed in the region for many years.

"I didn't want to retire to a big city," he said.

"I had been coming to the Valley for years holidaying and had built up a lot of local friendships.

"There is also a big arts movement in the Valley, so it's been nice to be involved in that."

And that has included being on the Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival committed from 2015-19 and the artistic director in 2018-2019.

"These days I spend my time writing music for the piano," he said, "and I have a student I work with."

For many years he has also held a weekly music appreciation class in the Valley, however due to COVID that has been curtailed.

"I love the piano and play every day as people who pass my home can attest to," he said.

He also contributes opinion pieces to publications on higher education and the value of musical education to the community.

Some of Robert Constable AM's achievements

University of Newcastle - Dean of Newcastle Conservatorium, 2002-2005. Dean of Faculty of Music, 1995-2001. Deputy Dean, 1990-1994.

Research Innovator, Stuart Piano Project.

NSW State Conservatorium of Music, Newcastle- Deputy Director, 1984-1989.

Lecturer, Music Studies, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, mid 1970s-1984.

Visiting Professor of Music and Consultant, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2012-2014.

Head School of Music, University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2007-2012.

Chair, Head of Music Schools Australia.

Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival - Artistic Director, 2018-2019. Committee, 2015-2019.

Committees

Chair, Academic Board, Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts, current.

Board Member, Musica Viva Australia, 1999-2005.

Member, Newcastle Lord Mayor's Bicentennial Committee, 1986-1988.

Other service includes:

Director and Co-host, Serenata Series, current.

Instrumental Adjudicator, City of Shoalhaven Eisteddfod, 2018.

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