A major endowment in memory of Richard Pulley will allow the Sydney Conservatorium to expand its regional buddy program.

The University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music has received a $500,000 gift from the family of Sydney violinist and pianist Richard Pulley (1969-2014). The endowment will assist in the expansion of the Conservatorium’s successful ‘buddy program’, established in 2013 to bridge the gap between city and regional music conservatoriums. Given in memory of Pulley, a past beneficiary of the Con, the gift ensures that the teaching and mentoring program will continue to discover and support music talent in regional New South Wales.

Students from the University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music performing at Dubbo Regional Conservatorium. Photo: supplied

Louise Grinham, a relative of Pulley and Director of the family’s CLEARbridge Foundation, said: “As humble as my cousin Richard was, we felt he would have been honoured to be associated with such a valuable and extensive music program.” Grinham hopes that with the Con, her family will “provide today’s young musicians, particularly in regional areas, with an ample level of support and encouragement to assist them in developing their passion and aptitude for music”.

Since its commencement, the program has allowed 70 tertiary music students to work with 10 regional conservatoriums. The Pulley endowment will guarantee its continuation and expansion into all 17 conservatoriums in New South Wales.

The buddy program, which will be renamed in honour of Pulley, enables Con students to spend between three and five days tutoring school music students for major concerts and festivals through a combination of workshops, one-on-one teaching, and performance training. Additiionally, students visit small, single teacher primary schools in remote areas to introduce children to music and orchestral instruments. The buddy program is also an elective unit of study that Con tertiary students can undertake as part of their degree, giving them the opportunity to hone teaching and communication skills, as well as network and broaden their industry connections.

Professor Anna Reid, who initiated the buddy program, and is the Head of School and Dean of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, says that the Con is extremely grateful for the endowment of the CLEARbridge Foundation. “The buddy program seeks to redress the imbalance in music resources in rural and more remote areas of New South Wales, while cultivating the next generation of musicians from across the country,” she says. “It has allowed our talented tertiary students to work closely with our regional conservatoriums. They have proven a great resource in mentoring and coaching school students, and helping these budding musicians to realise their music ability and the opportunity that lies ahead.”

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