Graduation ceremonies are getting a musical makeover at the University of the Sunshine Coast, in time for September’s spring graduation season.
The University’s academic procession music, previously a classical Danish piece, will be replaced by a powerful composition using ancient, pre-colonial instruments and modern replicas of traditional instruments, including the yidaki (didgeridoo).
The original score is the result of extensive consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country, drawing on traditional sounds, instruments, and ceremonial practices.
Composer, music industry leader and UniSC Honorary and Adjunct Uncle Kevin Starkey says the new piece, named Oro Yarta Milyarra – meaning Northwind Country Ceremony - is far more befitting of a “coming of the knowledge holders” for modern Australian graduates.
“I want them to feel connected, emotional, excited, engaged,” Uncle Kevin said.
"I want it to be a piece of music they will go away and remember it was for them. Delivered for them.”
Uncle Kevin is also a Senior Fellow of UniSC, an Elder in residence at Queensland Music, a cultural advisor to State and Federal governments, born and raised on Gubbi Gubbi country and whose traditional country is Narungga/Adnyamamathanha and Saibai.
He drew on an extensive music career, researching for more than a year to record the music at natural landmarks on Country – with sites including an abandoned train tunnel with incredible acoustics.
“I’ve been drawing from ceremonies I’ve been involved in over the years, different sounds, different methods of delivering those sounds and utilising those instruments,” said Uncle Kevin, who established Darkwood Studio Record Label Service, Australia’s first, and only, privately owned Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island record label service.
Listening to songs and sounds at ceremonies across many communities helped build cultural connections into the music, from Torres Strait Island, through New South Wales and Queensland, down to South Australia. This ensured the final piece is representative and appropriate.
"Music has been an integral part of our cultural practices since time began,” Uncle Kevin said.
“It’s our way of learning, of communication. Our form of mapping and movement. It’s an entity deeply entwined with our culture at every aspect,” he said.
And this is particularly true of ceremony and university graduation.
“Since the dawn of time, music has been used to mark the handing down of knowledge. Our oral practice is, really, no different to the way we do it at universities – you become a recipient of knowledge, are awarded, and accredited to hand that knowledge on,” he said.
“Now, when people join at graduation ceremonies to reflect on their accomplishments, the knowledge they have gathered, and the skills they now have to share with their community, there will be this whole new dimension connecting them to the knowledge-gatherers of the past.”
The song was recorded at UniSC’s state-of-the-art studios by Dr Lachlan Goold, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Music, who has recorded for major Australian bands including Powderfinger and Midnight Oil.
UniSC Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Helen Bartlett, said the time was right to refresh the music to a more meaningful composition that better embodies the university.
“Until now we’ve used the Prince of Denmark’s March for graduations, which is very fitting for a European ceremony, but not ideally suited for modern Australia,” Professor Bartlett said.
"As a modern University representing a diverse community, and with campuses based across the traditional lands of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of this country, it’s most fitting to commission this music honouring the deep history of the lands on which we live, work and study.
“It reminds us we are all connected and serves as a reminder of the enduring power of knowledge in both ancient and modern contexts.
“The traditional owners of this land have a deep culture of knowledge and ceremony around the sharing of knowledge, which is why we are tremendously grateful to Uncle Kevin for creating such a song to honour this for many years to come across all our campuses at Moreton Bay, Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Gympie and Fraser Coast.”
The song will be played during the academic procession, which is when university leaders and teachers enter the ceremony wearing traditional academic dress.
Media enquiries: Please contact the Media Team media@usc.edu.au