Baroque Academy 2026

Dates: Monday 14–Friday 18 September 2026
Venue: Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts, Adelaide University
Registration: Free, but registration is essential.
The Elder Conservatorium and Adelaide Baroque are delighted to be partnering again to host our sixth annual Baroque Academy. We are committed to providing a pathway for young and emerging Australian musicians to learn the specialist skills of Historical Performance. Adelaide Baroque’s core musicians along with some of the most celebrated Australian baroque performers and teachers will present a significant four-day intensive and immersive experience, open to secondary students, tertiary students and young professionals. The Academy will present concerts, masterclasses, lectures, Baroque dance classes and workshops.
We are delighted to welcome to the Elder Conservatorium some of the top Baroque specialists in Australia, including:
- Rachael Beesley
- Neal Peres Da Costa
- Nick Pollock
- Jessica Lee

As well as members of Adelaide Baroque:
- Ben Dollman
- Thomas Marlin
- Heidi von Bernewitz

Schedule:
Monday 14 September
9.00–11.00am: Upper Strings Tech and Rep Class – Rachael, Ben (Bishop Hall, Elder Hall Building)
9.00–11.00am: WW Tech and Rep Class – Jess (Elder Hall)
1.30–4.30pm: Rehearsal – Faculty (Elder Hall)
5.00–6.30pm: Adelaide Baroque Ensemble, Elder Conservatorium Baroque Ensemble (Elder Hall)
7.00–9.00pm: Rehearsal – Faculty (Elder Hall)

Tuesday 15 September
9.00am–12.00pm: Rehearsal – Elder Conservatorium Baroque Ensemble (Elder Hall)
12.00–1.50pm: Honours and Masters Performance Class – Rachael, Neal and Jess (Elder Hall)
2.00–3.00pm: WW Chamber Music Coaching – Jess (Elder Hall)
3.30–6.30pm: Rehearsal – Faculty (Elder Hall)
7.30pm: Faculty Concert (Elder Hall) – Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/baroque-academy-2026-faculty-concert
Wednesday 16 September
(Patrice Connelly from Sarabande music arrives afternoon; here until Friday morning)
11.00am–2.00pm: Masterclasses: Violin, Cello (LG14, LG06, Elder Hall Building)
3.00–4.00pm: Introduction to HIP – Rachael and Rob (Bishop Hall, Elder Hall Building)
4.00–7.00pm: Rehearsal with Elder Conservatorium Baroque Ensemble (Hartley Concert Room) – no harpsichord
Thursday 17 September
9.00–11.30am: Rehearsal – Elder Conservatorium Baroque Ensemble (Elder Hall)
12.00–1.30pm: Rehearsal – Elder Conservatorium Baroque Ensemble (Elder Hall)
2.00–3.00pm: Lecture: Current State of HP – Rachael, Neal, Rob (Bishop Hall, Elder Hall Building)
3.00–4.00pm: Baroque Dance Class 1 – MPD attend (Hartley Concert Room)
For Schools: 4.00–5.00pm: Tutorials (Bishop Hall, LG06, Elder Hall Building)
5.15–6.00pm: Baroque Dance (Madley)
6.30–7.30pm: Rehearsal (Elder Hall)

Friday 18 September
9.00–11.00am: Nick Pollock Guitar Class (Bishop Hall, Elder Hall Building)
1.00–2.30pm: Baroque Dance (Madley Rehearsal Studio)
3.00–6.00pm: Rehearsal (Elder Hall)
6.30–7.00pm: High School Students Join
7.30pm: Student and Faculty Concert (Elder Hall) – Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/baroque-academy-2026-student-and-faculty-concert