Australian National University abandons plan to axe the School of Music after public pressure
The ANU School of Music, which has existed for 60 years, would have been absorbed into another department under the proposed changes. (ABC News: Adam Shirley)
In short:
The Australian National University has abandoned a proposal to absorb its School of Music into a single course after a major community backlash.
The university had planned to merge the school into a broader School of Creative and Cultural Practice as part of cost-saving measures.
What's next?
The institution will instead set up a new Performance+ Hub, offering one-on-one instrumental and vocal tuition.
The Australian National University (ANU) has backflipped on a controversial plan to axe the School of Music after extraordinary public pressure.
The cuts were outlined earlier this year as part of the institution's Renew ANU cost-savings target.
The university said a proposal to slash the music school and merge it into a School of Creative and Cultural Practice would no longer proceed.
"We are pleased to confirm the continuation of the School of Music in its current structure," Dean of the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Bronwyn Parry, said.
From 2026, previous majors in performance and composition will be rolled into a single "flexible" music practice major.
A Performance+ Hub, offering students one-on-one instrumental and vocal tuition, will also be established.
"This renewed curriculum preserves our core teaching traditions while offering greater flexibility and expanding opportunities in composition, contemporary music production, music technology, and research pathways, ensuring students are prepared for the full spectrum of contemporary music careers," Professor Parry said.
ANU music student Jojo Yuen. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)
ANU music students like Jojo Yuen are cautiously optimistic about the change.
"It's a pretty good outcome for us students who have been trying really hard for the whole semester, actually, to fight for performance coming back next year," she said.
"It was very stressful."
Outcome after months of pressure
For months, students, staff and industry representatives had raised grave concerns about the impact of removing the specialist performance and composition teaching, for which the ANU is renown.
The artistic director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti, slammed it as an "act of cultural vandalism", while the Canberra Symphony Orchestra warned it could spell the ensemble's demise.
At the time the Canberra Symphony Orchestra said if the School of Music was axed it could see the end of the orchestra. (Supplied: Martin Ollman)
The ANU received more than 1,100 submissions from across Australia and internationally about broader cuts planned for the College of Arts and Social Sciences.
Canberra Symphony Orchestra chief executive Rachel Thomas said this morning's announcement was great news for both students and Canberra's entire arts ecosystem.
"This extremely positive outcome is the result of our community coming together to fight for an institution they hold dear,"Ms Thomas said.
She said the decision would protect the pipeline of local musicians on which the orchestra relies.
Rachel Thomas says the decision will protect the pipeline of local musicians that the Canberra Symphony Orchestra relies on. (ABC News: Toby Hunt)
The ANU also confirmed the Australian National Dictionary and the Australian Dictionary of Biography, both of which were facing the chopping block, would continue due to philanthropic support.
The university said its financial position had improved due to "higher-than-expected voluntary separations, staff attrition, retirements and vacancy management".