Accomplished freelance director and acting lecturer, Mr Peter Ross, is currently in Mackay to work with students from the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM).

Peter, who recently directed some of the CQCM Bachelor of Performing Arts students in the Pilbeam Theatre’s production of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ in Rockhampton, will be in Mackay for 3 weeks.

During this time he hopes to give the Bachelor of Music Theatre students some insights into the acting profession and the industry they one day hope to be a part of.

“This is not my first visit to Mackay and the CQCM,” said Peter. “I worked with the same group of students during first term this year, and have now returned to follow up on their progress and development over the past few months”.

“Mackay is a great place to study, and metaphorically speaking the students can almost cocoon themselves at the ‘Con’ while they’re learning, and then emerge from their studies and unleash their brilliance on the Australian public.".

Peter is in demand as a freelance director and earlier this year he directed the production of ‘My Fair Lady’ at the Mackay Entertainment Centre. Following his stint in Mackay, Peter will temporarily relocate to Melbourne where he will commence work on the closing ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next March. He will be assistant director to Wayne Harrison and will join full rehearsals in December.

“I feel very privileged to be working with Wayne Harrison and to have the opportunity to be involved with an event as significant as the Closing Ceremony,” he said. “It’s certainly going to be a career highlight for me, and will no doubt give me some additional skills that I can pass on to CQCM students in the future".

Sub-Dean of the CQCM Judith Brown is pleased that industry professionals such as Peter Ross take time out of from their busy professional lives to work with the CQCM students.

“The CQCM works hard to arrange visits from industry professionals, and they really enhance the learning opportunities of our students and give them invaluable insights,” she said.

“The CQCM is lucky to receive such tremendous support from people like Peter Ross, Malcolm McNeill, director Jack Webster, costume designer Trevor Green, musicians like Dan Rader, James Morrison and industry partnerships, for example with Hamilton Island".

“Our students make the most of every visiting artist and director and just absorb as much as they can to help with their future careers,” said Judith. “It’s a really exciting place to be".

To find out more about enrolling at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music visit the CQCM web site at http://www.cqu.edu.au/cqcm. Applications for study in 2006 close on 30 September.

Photo above: Acting lecturer and freelance director, Mr Peter Ross will shortly take on the role of Assistant Director for the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.