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Vignette 77: Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music
Located in the Elder Conservatorium of Music, the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM) was established in 1972 by ethnomusicologist Catherine Ellis and Ngarrindjeri poet Leila Rankine. Beginning as a music program to provide young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with an avenue for a transformative career in music, it evolved into a hub where First Nations students could learn to express themselves through music and realise their potential as musicians.
CASM’s roots in social and political change during the 1970s set the stage for its growth, and it was absorbed into the University’s Elder Conservatorium of Music in 1975. Its impact is evident through Jardine Andrew Kiwat’s 30 year tenure and Grayson Rotumah’s involvement since 1997. Students formed politically charged bands such as No Fixed Address and Coloured Stone in the 1980s, and today, CASM continues to thrive, producing notable alumni like Zaachariaha Fielding and Ellie Lovegrove, and most recently multi-award winning Anangu fashion hip hop outfit DEM MOB.
The success of CASM lies not only in the music careers of its graduates, but in creating a space where First Nations students can embrace their culture and find their voices.
The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History. Leading for the future. p.109
ChapterChapter 3: Leading for the futureVignetteVignette 52: No Fixed Address inspiring the next First Nations musiciansVignette 89: Urban CorroboreePersonCatherine Joan Ellis Dorothy Leila RankineOrganisationElder Conservatorium of MusicCentre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM)