Quick Link: GraingerWindSymphony.asn.au/rolandyeung

Music Director - Roland Yeung

Born in Melbourne, Roland has completed a Master of Arts degree major in conducting studies and music education at Columbia University (NY) and also holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Melbourne. He has participated in a number of conductor courses and workshops lead by maestros including Don Hunsberger, Donald Portnoy, Werner Andreas Albert, Yoshinao Osawa and Robert Rosen. His conducting technique is based on the Saito Conducting Method.

He is sought after as adjudicator at music competitions and eisteddfods including Royal South Street Society Ballarat, Bendigo Eisteddfod, Melbourne School Bands Festival, WA Schools Concert Band Festival, and the Australian Academy Band Festival Brisbane.

His present position is as Director of Music at Carey Baptist Grammar School since 1993 followed 14 years music teacher and co-ordinator at Blackburn High School, a special music school in Victoria. At Carey, he teaches classroom music from Year 7 to VCE Year 12, conducts the Senior Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra and the annual senior musical production, and leads a staff of 36 classroom and specialist instrumental music teachers.

Roland is principal conductor and music director of The Grainger Wind Symphony and was on its founding committee in 1986. He was awarded life membership in 1996. With this group, Roland has organised series of conductor seminars, one-on-one tutorials and conductor workshops to provide professional development to school and community band and orchestra conductors.

Roland has worked at state-wide level on music curriculum and assessment for the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority for over 20 years. He speaks and presents regularly to music teachers and senior secondary students on VCE Music.

At the 21st Anniversary celebrations in June 2006, Roland was awarded life membership of the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association. This followed an Excellence Award of the Australian Band and Orchestra Director's Association (Victorian Branch) and the award of life membership of the Association of Music Educators (Vic). These awards have come to Roland from recognition by his peers.

Recently Roland attended five music conferences and attended many concerts in the U.S.A. to keep abreast of trends in music performance and music education overseas. They were CBDNA in New York, MENC in Baltimore, MMEA in Boston, ABA in Florida and The MidWest Clinic in Chicago. He also attended the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles International Conference in Singapore and the Hong Kong International Band Festival.