The CQ region can anticipate a 'new era and new dimension' for performing arts at Central Queensland University.

This was the key message during community events at Mackay and Rockhampton recently (Nov 1-2) to introduce and welcome the University's new Professor and Director of Music & Performing Arts, Dr Kevin Purcell. Dr Purcell's appointment was also described as an investment within the creative enterprise area of CQU.

Dr Purcell, Jasper Wood, Janine Hanrahan and Brad Blackham after the concert

The world-renowed conductor and musical director was introduced by PVC and Executive Dean Professor Richard Smith in Mackay and Rockhampton. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Angela Delves shared the welcoming duties in Rockhampton.

Around 85 people attended the Mackay welcome and around 135 enjoyed the Rockhampton event.

Guests at both events enjoyed an exciting free concert featuring Canadian violinist Jasper Wood and American pianist Bradley Blackham. Dr Purcell's wife, Melbourne flautist Janine Hanrahan, also performed to premiere Under Capricorn by renowned Australian composer Brenton Broadstock.  The piece was written especially for these concerts.

New Director of Music & Performing Arts welcomed to Mackay 

Kevin Purcell returned to Australia in 2001 having spent the previous 8 years working throughout the UK, Europe and the USA as a conductor, musical director and arranger. An internationally recognised expert in design interaction for musical theatre, Professor Purcell's research will concentrate on the establishment of new research studios for the university in intermedial design for entertainment.

"I believe that there are significant opportunities over the next decade for university conservatoriums throughout Australia, to define an agenda for creative enterprise both as educational institutions and as entrepreneurs," he said.

Janine Hanrahan, Jasper Wood, Dr Kevin Purcell and Brad Blackham

"One of the most arresting challenges facing tertiary music education throughout Australia is developing a research funding imperative that consolidates an appropriate nexus between skills-based learning and industry demand.

"The recently completed Leitch Report in the UK; in tandem with the review of the The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), and our equivalent revamped RQF reporting requirements for DEST from 2008, are examples in point suggesting a necessity for new ways of ‘thinking' about the type of training and research focus conservatoriums should be moving toward."

Further BIO: Emigrating to the U.K. in 1994, Kevin came to the attention of Sir Charles Mackerras. Sir Charles invited him to assist on concerts with the London Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Welsh National Opera, Covent Garden and the BBC Philharmonic.  Kevin was subsequently awarded the prestigious Australian Music Foundation in London Conducting Award with additional funding for a further two-years of study at the Janckova Akademie Mzickch Umeni v Brne (JAMU) in the Czech Republic.  In 1996, again in London, Kevin was further honoured with The Tait Memorial Trust Conductor's Award.

At the end of 1994; at the invitation of Ian Campbell, General Director of the San Diego Opera, Kevin was privileged to work with Renée Fleming on a production of Dvorak's operatic masterpiece, Rusalka.  Similarly, The American conductor, David Robertson, invited Kevin to conduct Ensemble Intercontemporain at the Paris Conservatory in 1995.  During this period he also conducted, for the first time, the Silesian State Opera, Hradec Kralov Filharmonie, Beethoven Chamber Orchestra, and the Georgian State Television and Radio Orchestra (Tblisi); in a live broadcast performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, during a period of civil war in that country.

Kevin moved to the USA in 1998 to further his conducting career.  He was appointed Principal Conductor of the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra for two years between 1999-2000.

Between 1996-98, he worked for Cameron Mackintosh on several of his productions in London's west end, most notably as musical director for the New London Theatre production of CATS and musical preparation for Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th Birthday concert at the London Palladium.  During this period, Kevin also completed orchestrations for the prestigious Lady Taverner's' Gala; also at the Palladium, including performances by Sir Cliff Richard, Roy Hudd and other luminaries of the British Stage.  In 1998, he musically directed the Chichester Festival production of Sweet Charity.  In March 2000, Kevin undertook the musical direction for the US premiere of the highly acclaimed new Musical, Napoleon, before its transfer to London's west end.

In July 2003, Kevin renewed his association with the Really Useful Company Asia Pacific Ltd. as Musical Director for the Korean premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS.

Recent activities have included the role of Assoc. Musical Director and lead orchestrator for HATS-OFF;  (Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights AIDS) charity concert in Melbourne in November 2005 and supervising Stella Entertainment's production of Jonathan Larson's RENT at The National Theatre in 2006.  In recent months, Kevin has completed the musical supervision and arrangements for the eight-part television series, The Magic of Musicals.  He has also conducted the orchestra sessions for the new Australian film, The Line.  As a theatre composer, Kevin premiered Rebecca - The Musical; based on Daphne du Maurier's timeless novel, with book and lyrics by Victor Kazan, in June 2004.

Previously, Kevin has undertaken two composition residencies (1994 and 1996) at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. He was chosen, in 1992 and 1995, as a composer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's, ‘National Orchestral Composers School'.  All of Kevin's orchestral works; including the Symphony No.1, have been performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Queensland.  His current commissions include a new Sonata for Violin & Pianoforte, The Silent Well, a setting for Tenor and Pianoforte from the Ern Malley poems, ‘The Darkening Ecliptic', for the Centre for Studies in Australian Music at the University of Melbourne and a new choral work for St Catherine's School.  Kevin's music is published by Publications by Wirripang.

CQU's new Bachelor of Music (Specialisation) degree is designed to provide specialist training in jazz and popular music, classical music and music theatre. The new Bachelor of Performing Arts (Specialisation) is a flexible program with a number of specialisation options, preparing graduates who are competent to work in a variety of settings within the Arts industry.