Vignette 73: Founder of the Elder Conservatorium of Music

Joshua Ives (1854– 1931) was the first Elder Professor of Music at the University and a pioneer of music education. 

Ives, a Cambridge University trained musician, created the first music professorial position in any Australian university and in 1885, established the first music degree program in Australia based on the Cambridge model. Ives introduced the first public music exams in Australia and, using a generous donation from Sir Thomas Elder, was instrumental in founding the Elder Conservatorium of Music. 

Ives conducted the premiere of his Symphony in D minor, L’Australienne, on July 20, 1901, at the opening of a new organ at Elder Hall. The work was hailed as a great success by the audience. Today, it is largely unknown, despite the existence of an autographed full score of the work in the Barr Smith Library and its proximity to the events of the Federation.

Ives left the University to teach privately in Melbourne. His contributions to Australian music education continue to resonate today.

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Leading for the future. p.105