admin@nrcac.edu.au

Northern Rivers Conservatorium

Honouring and remembering our magnificent Jenny Dowell

Jenny served on the Board of the Northern Rivers Conservatorium from 2019 to 2026 and as Chair from 2019 to 2022. She stepped into leadership at a time none of us could have predicted, and guided the Conservatorium through the uncertainty of the Covid pandemic and the devastation of the 2022 floods with courage, steadiness and deep compassion.

Her leadership was not distant or ceremonial. It was practical, hands-on and wholehearted. It looked like strategic advocacy with politicians and funding partners. It looked like thoughtful engagement with staff at professional development days. It looked like turning up in the mud during flood clean-ups, and standing proudly beside our students as she presented scholarship awards and celebrated their musical achievements. It also looked like, alongside the Conservatorium’s Board and management, helping to steer the incredible rebuild of our building and our organisation after the flood, ensuring that what emerged was stronger and more resilient than before. Jenny never lost sight of the bigger picture, but she also never lost sight of people.

The Board, staff and students adore her, and we are profoundly grateful for her unwavering support, her integrity and the care she showed at every step. Jenny’s belief in this Conservatorium, and in the role it plays in our community, has left a lasting imprint on all of us.

We extend our deepest condolences to Ron, Georgie and Tim, family and loved ones. She will be so greatly missed, and so lovingly remembered.

We love you Jenny ❤️

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Conditions of Enrolment

Enrolment

An enrolment becomes valid and lessons can commence upon confirmation of lesson placement by the Northern Rivers Conservatorium (NRC) Administration.
Enrolment is continuing for the whole calendar year until notice of withdrawal (see Student Withdrawal).
Term dates for Community Music are as published by the NSW Department of Education, with Music in Schools term dates advised by your participating school.
Music in School schedules of lessons are available online at our website and it is the responsibility of parents, carers, and students to ensure that they have the latest timetable.

Fees

A registration fee is payable once a year by every student enrolled.
An invoice for fees will be raised at the beginning of each term for all enrolled students.
Fees are on a term basis and payable within seven days of the date of invoice, unless NRC has agreed to a regular payment arrangement.
In the event of financial hardship, please contact the office to discuss payment plans and/or apply for fee assistance through our bursary programme.
Any student with outstanding fees from a previous term will be automatically withdrawn. Students may only re-enrol if accounts are paid in full or an approved payment schedule implemented; in this case it may not be possible to provide the student with the same lesson time, day or teacher.

Delivery of Lessons

Lessons begin and end promptly at the designated time.
It is the student’s responsibility to attend their lessons on time. For Music In Schools students, our families are asked to check the schedules prior to their child’s day and remind their child prior to leaving home.

Missed Lessons / Refunds

NRC must be informed of all absences, with 24 hours’ notice where possible, by phone (6621 2266), SMS (0448 026 211), or email admin@nrcac.edu.au
Credits or refunds are not given for missed lessons, unless due to tutor absence.

Make-up Lessons

Make-up lessons are only available to Community Music students, with a maximum of one make-up lesson per term.
Tutors can deliver make-up lessons only if they have available time and have received more than 24 hours’ notice of the absence.
In the event that a make-up lesson is not available, one of the following options may be chosen instead: one free attendance to one of the holiday make-up workshops offered each year that is equivalent to two hours’ music education activity, OR one free ticket to an NRC visiting artist’s concert/workshop event.

Change of Teacher

NRC reserves the right to supply a substitute tutor if the original tutor is unavailable.

Student Withdrawal

Two weeks’ notification is required for any withdrawal and must be given in writing to the NRC office.

Disclaimer

NRC reserves the right to review and implement changes to fees at any time.
Our tutors reserve the right to discontinue lessons where student behaviour is deemed inappropriate.