Curtain call for UniSA and James Morrison Academy of Music partnership

James Morrison committed to the future of jazz in Mount Gambier as the University of South Australia ends its partnership with music academy.

The James Morrison Academy Jazz Orchestra at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 2017. Picture: McBeath.

The University of South Australia has parted ways with the James Morrison Academy of Music.

After six years, a UniSA spokesperson confirmed the three-year Bachelor of Music program and one-year diploma and honours courses offered at the Mount Gambier campus were being “phased out”.

“The UniSA programs in music offered through the James Morrison Academy of Music are being phased out,” the spokesperson said. “All current students are expected to complete their studies this year.”

Head of the school, world renowned musician and composer James Morrison said there would be no new student intake in 2021.

James Morrison performed at the launch of Sunset Piazza in Sydney earlier this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

He said the tertiary education landscape had changed dramatically in the last 12 months including multi-billion dollar revenue losses from the collapse in international student enrolments.

“As soon as the pandemic erupted it was clear that many Australian Universities would see historic cuts to jobs, courses and conditions for both university staff and students, resulting in more than 17,000 job losses.

“It’s very sad to have to turn away all those who wanted to begin new studies with us at JMA in 2021, but this situation is out of our control.”

Mr Morrison established the academy in 2015 and said it had been a great development for Mount Gambier, South Australia and jazz and music education nationally and he remained committed to passing on his love of music.

“In the coming months we will be continuing discussions with key stakeholders including the City of Mount Gambier, the Education Department, other University and pathway providers and members of the music industry to look at the different ways we can continue and in what form that might be in the future,” he said.

“Mount Gambier has been on the jazz map for many years due to the highly successful Generations in Jazz event, however the advent of JMA has certainly expanded that reputation worldwide.

Mr Morrison said the situation was unlikely to impact the future of the event which was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.

David Lloyd, vice-chancellor of UniSA. Picture: Tom Huntley

The partnership was announced in late 2014 and at the time UniSA vice chancellor Professor David Lloyd said the academy would draw on Mr Morrison’s “unrivalled network of top professional musicians worldwide to form the faculty, as well as a core of staff based in Mount Gambier”.

“We are delighted to be able to support the provision of this vital music education program with someone as accomplished and passionate about music as James,” Prof Lloyd said.

“The partnership is of great importance to the provision of music education locally and nationally and will be of enormous benefit to the Mount Gambier community.”

Last year, a young musician at the James Morrison Academy pleaded guilty to indecent assault against a fellow student. He was spared conviction and returned home to the United States to pursue a teaching career.

UniSA did not comment on whether the case had played a role in its decision.