Emeritus Professor Larry Sitsky AO is one of Australia's foremost composers, teachers, writers, intellectuals and as such, he can be regarded as a natiional treasure. He has made an extraordinary contribution to Australian life and Australian music.  In this session, we will have a brief look at his background and childhood in China, his education in Sydney the influence of his eminent piano teachers, his sources of inspiration for his many hundreds of compositions in all genre and lastly his own influence on contemporary pianists and scholars.

About the Presenter

Dr Rita Crews OAM

With over 40 years experience teaching music at private and tertiary levels and an AMEB examiner since 1988, musicologist Dr Rita Crews OAM, is the Chief Examiner for AMEB Theory. She is a Patron of the MTA of NSW and former President as well as a former Deputy Chair of the AMEB [NSW] Board.

Rita's biography appears in Who’s Who in NSW and Who's Who of Australian Women. She is the author of A Centenary Celebration, the AMEB 1918-2018 and co-author of A Musical Missionary: the Life and Music of Dulcie Holland and Breaking the Drought: Roy Agnew, Composer, Pianist Teacher as well as 100 Years - Music Teachers' Association of NSW 1912-2012.

In 2014 Rita was given the great honour of being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for 'services to the Performing Arts as a music teacher, examiner and composer' and in 2015, the Distinguished Alumni Award of the University of New England.

First Thursdays

These regular professional development sessions were originally the brainchild of MTA Member Annette Allerding, who wanted music teachers to be able to meet and share ideas. Originally named Keys, Cakes and Conversation (KCC) the group went online during Covid, and eventually reached numbers often in excess of 50 teachers, meeting each month on Zoom. The Music Teachers' Association of NSW is delighted to bring these sessions into our fold. We want the sessions to continue to be free to our members, but we also believe it is important to pay presenters for their valuable time. So we ask you to consider a giving a donation towards the costs if you are able. You will be given the option to donate when you book your place.