Music Day Visits

Music is a part of the heart, soul and rhythm of New Norcia – a place that captures the imagination of music makers, young and old, and inspires them to create, perform and enjoy.

For over 150 years, some of music’s great names have been attracted to New Norcia, including Andre Segovia, Philip Glass, Peter Sculthorpe and Christopher Willcock. New Norcia has unique music facilities with a wide variety of performance and practice spaces, including large halls, two chapels, two work centres, two outdoor arenas. The halls seat 60-120 people and the work centres seat 30-170 people.

Acoustics

The colleges contains wooden floors, linoleum floors, carpeted floors. All rooms, especially the chapels, have very high ceilings – ideal for choral, orchestral and band work.

Excellent musical equipment

Shigeru Kawai Grand Piano in St Gertrude’s College; a large upright Yamaha piano in St Joseph’s Hall regularly tuned (venue currently under restoration); a second, smaller upright Yamaha piano located in the Church, regularly tuned; two older style pianos, one regularly tuned; and 50 music stands.

Art Visits

Since New Norcia was founded in 1847, generations of monks have built a town of towers and gothic arches and filled these buildings with lavish art and craft works. The shapes, colours, textures and rich history of New Norcia—both inside and out—have always fascinated and engaged artists.

Each year schools return to New Norcia as part of a day visit, to learn about music and art in our unique environment. For more information please contact us on 08 9654 8018 or groups@newnorcia.com.au.