Author(s)
Annie MITCHELL
Abstract
This research project investigates the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters (floods) upon the education of music students and the functioning of musicians and community orchestras in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. One year after these events, the research is tracking the recovery of music students and their institutions, of musicians and their orchestras, and the contribution of these ensembles to the healing of their members and respective communities. This study
follows a qualitative action research approach; methodologies include in-depth interviews, questionnaires, participant observation and auto-ethnography. Findings so far reveal the rapid development of more blended learning educational models, balancing on-line and on-campus delivery. The successful fund-raising performances of two community orchestras are featured.
Keywords: Resilience, reconnection, recovery, social capital