Music makers in lead

By Tania Martin
THE Dandenong Ranges Music Council (DRMC) has made its mark as one of the best community music organisations in Australia.
DRMC was one of six music groups across the country to be recognised for its commitment to the industry.
“The awards encourage Australians to make music in schools and communities,” music coordinator Bev McAlister said.
The award recognised DRMC as the best all round community music program for all ages, abilities and for all music.
The music council was chosen from 225 nominations.
The DRMC was formed in 1979 by a group of people who wanted to bring music to the local community.
It has since grown to become a model for community music organisations around Australia.
Awards convenor Tina Broad said the awards were launched to help highlight successful community music initiatives as a way of encouraging others to follow their lead.
Ms Broad said this initiative comes following research that shows Australians aren’t making as much music as some of their international counterparts.
According to statistics, half of the homes in the United Kingdom and United States of America have someone who is musically active.
It has also showed that there are more than 5 million lapsed players in Australia – people who used to learn a musical instrument but no longer play.
“We set out to find the people and programs spreading the music bug throughout Australia,” Ms Broad said.
“There was such a breadth of activity it was impossible to pick just one winner.”
Ms Broad said that the award winners had shown that music making was a kind of social glue for communities.
“It (music) connects and binds people together and has the ability to change lives. It’s inspirational stuff,” she said.
Ms McAlister said the award recognised the DRMC’s role in the community and the music industry.
She said it had been exciting to see so many young and upcoming musicians over the past 29 years make a career out of making music.
“It’s thrilling to be able to help so many young kids out,” Ms McAlister said. Ms McAlister said that over the years the music council had become the pinnacle of community music – a model for others to look up to.
She said that the DRMC would continue to make its mark on the music industry by introducing new and inventive ways to include music into everyday life.