5 February 2008
Music exchange hits right note for Australians at National School of Music and Dance
‘Often we don’t speak the same language, but the language of music is universal’, Yaron Harus, leader of Australian band Monsieur Camembert told students at the National School of Music and Dance during a recent music workshop. ‘You can learn a lot about the culture of a country through their music and I hope today you will learn as much about Australia, as we have learned about Laos’ he said.
Monsieur Camembert, a group of six Australian musicians visited the National School of Music and Dance as part of a cultural exchange organised by the Australian Government. The Australian Ambassador Dr Michele Forster said, “In true Australian spirit, the music of Monsieur Camembert reflects the diversity of Australian culture and Australians as they draw on musical influences from across the globe”.
Over 100 students between the ages of 12-16 took a break from study to listen to the Australian band and learn about the band’s musical instruments and the role each instrument played in building momentum during a performance. Band members also shared their experiences about why they chose careers as musicians, with many of them following in their parents’ footsteps.
The highlight for the Australian band were the performances by the dance and music students. Mr Khamphouang Inthavongsy, Director of the National School of Music and Dance, who choreographed one of the dance sequences, said “The students learn a great deal from these exchanges by sharing our rich cultural heritage and in doing so, developing a greater understanding of one another”.
The Australian Government sponsored the Australian band, ‘Monsieur Camembert’ to travel to Vientiane to perform at the Australian Embassy’s Australia Day reception and to participate in the music workshop with students from the National School of Music and Dance. The band performed at the Australia Day reception. The chief guest at the reception was HE Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Minister for Foreign Affairs.