Antarctica - Music, Sounds and Cultural Connections
The School of Music
The Australian National University
Canberra, Australia
27-29 June 2011
Artistic Director and Conference Convenor, Arnan Wiesel.
Taking place in the centenary year of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition led by Sir Douglass Mawson, this Conference, the first dedicated to this topic, will look at collaborative work including the sonic medium with creative arts and other disciplines. It will highlight the importance of sound (or lack of it) and music as part of the unique Antarctic environment, and the papers presented will encompass all of the creative arts.
Hear Alice Giles' Music Makers interview on Classic FM
Read the featured article in BMA Street Magazine
Read reviews in Times2, Tuesday 28 June 2011 Page 1 Page 2
Cool music to feature at ANU conference, The Canberra Times
Ice Music, ABC NEWS
Alice in Antarctica - renowned harpist creates music in Antarctica, The Music Show, ABC
Conference Program
Sunday June 26th
Opening Event: 5pm - 8pm
Monday June 27th
Session 1 9.15AM-12.15PM
Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911 - 1914
Heather Rossiter, Steve Martin, Mark Pharaoh and keynote speaker
Professor Tom Griffiths
Session 2 1.30-3.45PM
Natural / Traditional Music Instruments and the Antarctic
Terje Isungset (Norway), Rupert Summerson, Daniel Faber and Cheryl Leonard (USA)
Session 3 16.30pm - 17.30pm
New Zealand: Music and the Antarctic
Evening Concert 8:00pm - 10:00pm: Douglas Quin, Craig Vear, Rupert Sommerson
Patrick Shephard
Tuesday June 28th
Session 4 9.15AM-12.15PM
Literature Film and Antarctica
Craig Cormick, Andrea Juan (Argentina), Frances Hatch (England) and keynote speaker Dr Elizabeth Leane
Session 5 1.30-3.45PM
Silence and the Antarctic
Jesse Blackadder, Dr Lise Mellor, Sherrie-lee Evans, Pat Millar, Dr Steve Nicol and Craig Cormick and
Book launch 3.45 - 4.15pm
In Bed with Douglas Mawson by Craig Cormick Introduced by Prof. Tom Griffiths
Session 6 4.30-7PM
Performing Arts and the Antarctic - Crossing Boundaries
Alice Giles, Tina Evans and keynote speaker Prof Fred Watson
Wednesday June 29th
Session 7 9.15AM-12.15PM
Sound Recordings and Accoustics in the Antarctic
Dr Douglas Quin, Prof Neville Fletcher, Daniel Faber, Craig Vear (UK) and Andrea Polli (USA)
Session 8 1.30-3.45PM
Early Antarctic Expeditions music
Bruce Watson, Claire Beynon (New Zealand), Rupert Summerson, Bernadette Hince and Jeff Brownrigg
Session 9 4.30-5.30PM
Art Parallel to the Environment
Lisa Roberts, Daniela Giogi and Genevieve Swifte
Click here to go to the
Antarctica Music Festival Program
Presentations and performers will include –
- Dr. Douglas Quin (USA) Download Douglas Quin's article Antarctica: Austral Soundscapes
- Cheryl Leonard (USA)
- Dr. Fred Watson (Australia)
- Terje Isungset (Norway)
- Craig Vear (Great Britain - in absentia)
- Professor Tom Griffiths - ANU (Australia)
- Dr. Elizabeth Leane - UTAS (Australia)
- Dr Steve Nicol
- Heather Rossiter
- Steve Martin
- Mark Pharaoh
- Rupert Summerson
- Phil Dadson (NZ)
- Patrick Shephard (NZ)
- Craig Cormick
- Dr. Lisa Roberts - UTS (Australia)
- Daniela Giorgi
- Jesse Blackadder
- Dr Lise Mellor
- Daniel Faber
- Rosemary Madigan
- Alice Giles
- Sherie - Lee Evans
- Pat Millar
- Prof. Neville Fletcher
- Bruce Watson
- Claire Beynon (NZ)
- Jeff Brownrigg
- Bernadette Hince
- Andrea Juan (Argentina)
- Genevieve Swifte
- Dr. Philip Samartzis
- Ian Tumblyn (Canada - in absentia)
- The Frozen Orchestras of Lost Sound (England - in absentia)
- Gary France
- Dr. John Lane
- Professor Allen Otte
- Synergy Percussion: Australia
- Speak Percussion: Australia
The ANU School of music will also hold the Antarctica Music Festival on June 25 and 26. These events will include music, theatre and dance performances - all related to Antarctica.

will also be offered at an extra optional cost of $60 per person.
Follow this link to register
Register for the full conference by the June 10th
Day passes $90
Directions for Visitors
The ANU is located in Acton on the north side of Lake Burley Griffin, just west of the Civic Centre.
Arriving by plane
There is an Airliner shuttle buses from the airport, for your convenience. Or else you can catch a taxi to your accommodation. The Canberra Airport is only about 15 minutes from the ANU.
If you do not wish to catch a taxi from the train station to the ANU (about a twenty minute trip), you can catch bus Route 39 or bus Route 80 (they run at least every half hour between 7.30 am and 10.30 pm) to the city centre. Bus fares within Canberra are all $3.00 regardless of destination. Ask the driver for a transfer ticket - this will allow you to transfer at the City Interchange (Bay 5) to a Route 34 bus (running every half-hour) which will take you along Liversidge Street to Liversidge Apartments. The HRC is located very near by on McCoy Circuit.
For Canberra Taxi companies go here
Transport information at the ANU.
Within walking distance from the ANU
Capital Tower, 2 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra City ACT 2600
Rydges Canberra, London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2600
City Walk Hotel, (Back packers) 2 Mort Street, Canberra City, ACT 2601
Canberra City
Capital Executive Apartment Hotel, 108 Northbourne Ave, Canberra, ACT, 2601
Crowne Plaza Apartments, 1 Binara Street, Canberra City, ACT 2600
Olims Motor Inn, Ainslie Avenue, (Cnr Limestone Avenue) Braddon ACT 2601
Diamant Canberra, 15 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2601
Tall Trees, 21 Stephen Street, Ainslie ACT 2602
Acacia Motor Lodge, 65 Ainslie Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2600
Canberra Wide Apartments (9 locations)
YHA, (Youth Hostel) 7 Akuna Street, Canberra City, ACT 2601
North Canberra
Comfort Inn Downtown, 82 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra ACT 2601
Fenner Hall, 210 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City ACT 2600
Canberra Central Apartments, 79-81 Northbourne Avenue, Turner, Canberra ACT 2612
Studio Q (self-contained studio accommodation), 5 Boronia Drive, O’Connor, Canberra ACT 2602
For further details contact -
Arnan Wiesel
Head of Keyboard
Outreach Convener
Professional Music Practice Degree Convener
School of Music
CASS, ANU
Tel. +61 (02) 6125 4878
E. arnan.wiesel@anu.edu.au
Supported by the College of Arts & Social Sciences

