We are thrilled to announce that Her Excellency, the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, has accepted the role of Patron of Alberts | The Tony Foundation’s national initiative, Music Education: Right from the Start.
“As your Patron, I am delighted to join the chorus of support for Music Education’s [Right from the Start] message: Music has the power to change lives. And music should be a part of every Australian child’s education – right from the start,” said the Governor-General.
“Music Education [Right from the Start’s] research and practical collaborations are a pathway for music to be at the heart of every school and to provide teachers with the confidence to give the gift of music to every child”.
Music Education: Right from the Start is a collaborative national initiative led by Alberts | The Tony Foundation, focused on ensuring every Australian primary school student has access to quality, sequential, and ongoing music education. Since its launch in 2022, the initiative has made significant strides in shifting the momentum toward systemic change, building deep partnerships with organisations and individuals across the music, research, education, and philanthropic sectors with the aim to elevate the place and purpose of quality music learning in schools.
Our collective vision is clear: music has the power to change lives, and it should be a central part of every child’s education, as it is their right.
In announcing her role as Patron, the Governor-General expressed her deep connection to music and its transformative role in shaping young lives:
“Introducing children to music as listeners, learners, and performers brings with it a host of benefits and a whole lot of fun,” she said. “Singing together, moving to the beat, finding the rhythm, or a drum, or picking out a tune on the piano—every child can play, learn, and communicate with the language of music.”
She also shared her personal experience learning music throughout her school years, highlighting how it shaped her journey by fostering friendships and broadening her perspective.
She shared: “As a young student in primary school and high school, music brought me new friendships, opened my mind and my heart to new ways of seeing the world – encouraging me, teaching me, and always entertaining. Music in all its forms brings me joy each day.”
As a visionary and compassionate leader, the Governor-General’s support for Music Education; Right from the Start will be instrumental in strengthening our partnerships and expanding our reach to advance our mission for every Australian primary school student to receive the myriad benefits of a quality, sequential and ongoing music education.
Said the Governor-General:
“Spanning the arts, humanities, and science, music is a mirror to the world – and it often reflects the beauty of life or deals with issues of our time. It’s a powerful gift to give our young people.”
