Life Memberships Announced
On our 10th birthday, we celebrated five remarkable people whose contributions were acknowledged with Life Membership.
Lin Bender AM was the Centre’s Strategic Development Consultant prior to opening, responsible for bringing together the Music Industry Reference Group, architects ARM, acoustic engineers ARUP and many other stakeholders that developed the venue’s all-important design brief. Lin's contribution to the Centre and music in Melbourne is vast and encompasses support for musicians, volunteerism and a passionate desire to support innovation.
Margaret Farren-Price and Ronald Farren-Price AM are beloved friends, of the Centre, friends of music, and an inspiration to all who know them. The Centre is privileged to honour their outstanding commitment to the Melbourne Recital Centre, to music in Melbourne, and to generations of young musicians who have benefitted from their generosity, wisdom and kindness as teachers and mentors.
A great music experience requires three main ingredients – a great venue, great performers, and a great audience. Without the audience, musicians are just practicing in an empty room. Since the Centre opened in 2009, Richard Gubbins has achieved a remarkable record. He has attended more performances that anyone else, by a country mile, averaging three performances a week, every week since the Centre opened. He can be seen in the front row of the Primrose Potter Salon several times a week, and spends much of the rest of the time volunteering for our Key Presenting Partners ANAM and Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. We are honoured that Richard has accepted Life Membership of the Centre.
Penny Hutchinson has been one of Melbourne Recital Centre’s greatest advocates, from before its doors opened, to now. As Director of Arts Victoria from 2000-2013, she was instrumental in the Centre’s development, design, funding and business model. Many major cultural infrastructure projects that changed Melbourne’s arts landscape occurred during her tenure at Arts Victoria, but as a musician herself, Penny has had a special, enduring affinity with the Centre and its program.
Thank you to each of these wonderful friends of Melbourne Recital Centre.