The Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music established yet another link with Australian Idol this weekend as the CQCM Jazz Orchestra performed on Hamilton Island during the Hahn Premium Race Week presentation evening on Saturday.

Performing with the Jazz Orchestra was past top 3 Australian Idol Courtney Murphy, who lit up the stage with his famous ‘Idol’ charm as he sung the Beatles ‘Help’ and ‘Bad Habits’ by Billy Fields to a Race Week crowd of over 700 people.

A 2004 Australian Idol Top 30 contestant Ngaiire Jacobs is currently a student of the CQCM and 2005 Idol Top 30 contestant Ben Worthington is a past student of the CQCM, so this latest performance highlights the Idol link for the third time.

“Courtney Murphy is a great performer who fitted in really well with the big band sound,” said Glen Hodges, jazz senior lecturer from CQCM.

“The CQCM jazz orchestra was involved in a number of events during the week,” said Glen. “Certainly the final night in front of an international audience was a highlight, with the band receiving tremendous applause and positive feedback".

The CQCM Jazz Orchestra is the premier jazz ensemble of the Conservatorium of Music. The Jazz Orchestra, which incorporates CQCM staff, students and musicians from as far a field as Cairns, Townsville and the Atherton Tablelands, has an extensive performance history.

According to Glen, “Hahn Premium Race Week is one of our favourite events as it provides a great opportunity for CQCM jazz students and staff to showcase some of our diverse ensembles in front of a discerning international audience. That we were so well received is a credit to the students’ professionalism and to the work of our bandleader and CQU lecturer Derrin Kerr".

In 2002, the CQCM developed a partnership with Hamilton Island Enterprises. The first part of this exciting partnership involves the CQCM jazz orchestra taking up residency on the island four times a year for periods of up to 5 days. This blending of education and industry experience at one of Australia’s premier tourism destinations is unique and has received much attention and praise from national and international jazz educators as an innovative model for training jazz artists.

These kinds of performances are also in line with the CQCM’s focus on industry partnerships. Not only do the students get to learn from industry professionals such as Courtney Murphy, Grace Knight, Don Rader, Don Burrows and James Morrison, but they also get to work and perform with them at some fabulous locations.

“The feedback, as always, was overwhelmingly positive and CEO of Hamilton Island Wayne Kirkpatrick was very happy with our performance,” said Glen.

To find out more about programs on offer through the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, or to apply online, visit www.cqu.edu.au/cqcm. Applications for 2006 auditions close on September 30, 2005.

Photo:(front row) Joel Hodges, Cameron Matthews (CQU student), Mitchell Watkins (CQU student), Derrin Kerr (CQU Jazz lecturer). (back row) Two members of Courtney’s band, CQU Jazz Coordinator Glen Hodges (3rd left), Peter MacKenzie (CQU student), Wayne Kirkpatrick (CEO Hamilton Island), Courtney Murphy, Adam Thompson and a member of Courtney Murphy’s band.