Pamela Freeman - Music Curator of the Estate of Geoffrey Tozer
Biography
Pamela Freeman studied at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music during the years Geoffrey Tozer was travelling fortnightly to Hobart to study with Eileen Ralf. Geoffrey was a regular visitor to the Conservatorium performing Lunch Hour Concerts and assisting Eileen in her guest lectures there. A pianist herself, Pamela completed a Diploma of School Music and Bachelor of Education, and began her lifelong career at Cosgrove High.
In 1975 Pamela moved to Canberra to take up a position in the new secondary college system at Narrabundah High School – which was transformed the following year into one of the four inaugural secondary colleges for students in Years 11 and 12. Pamela developed the music curriculum and attracted both staff and students who established a highly reputed music program, acknowledged and supported by the Canberra School of Music. Her appointment as Head of Arts at Narrabundah College, preceded the introduction of the International Baccalaureate curriculum to the College – the first school in Australasia to offer these new course, now widely taught throughout the world.
In 1979, Pamela was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study Group Keyboard pedagogy in the United States of America. At the time, the only Keyboard Laboratory in the country was being employed to teach second-study musicians at the Sydney Conservatorium; in America they had been an important teaching tool at most Music Colleges since the 1960s. Pamela studied with Dr Larry Rast at Northern Illinois University and at the City University of New York with Dr Sylvia Eversole. On her return to Australia, Pamela conducted group keyboard workshops in four states, encouraging music teachers to set up laboratories and teach not only keyboard skills but composition, arranging and music fundamentals for younger students. By the mid 80s school all around the country were working with this technology, and by the late 90s they were also computerized. Pamela was invited to Japan in 1983 as a guest of the Yamaha Foundation, to view classes and laboratories in a number of cities. She also visited the renowned Yamaha factories in Hamamatsu.
Pamela’s friendship with Geoffrey Tozer was renewed when he settled in the National Capital in the 1980s. Geoffrey became a regular visitor to Narrabundah College working with and supporting, many of the emerging musicians who flocked to study there. In 1990, Pamela moved to Adelaide. She spent a year working with ABC Classic FM then took up the position of Director of Music at Prince Alfred College where she taught for the next 18 years. Geoffrey visited the College a number of times giving concerts, masterclasses and working with some of the more gifted piano students.
In 2009 Pamela resigned to take on the legacy of transcribing the compositions of Geoffrey Tozer. The first volume Pieces from Childhood with the accompanying compact disc performed by Lachlan Redd, was launched in December 2014 and is now available in PDF format on the Tozart website.
Pamela Freeman will appear in the forthcoming documentary film, Geoffrey Tozer: Pure Genius, which is currently in production. (2021)
In 1975 Pamela moved to Canberra to take up a position in the new secondary college system at Narrabundah High School – which was transformed the following year into one of the four inaugural secondary colleges for students in Years 11 and 12. Pamela developed the music curriculum and attracted both staff and students who established a highly reputed music program, acknowledged and supported by the Canberra School of Music. Her appointment as Head of Arts at Narrabundah College, preceded the introduction of the International Baccalaureate curriculum to the College – the first school in Australasia to offer these new course, now widely taught throughout the world.
In 1979, Pamela was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study Group Keyboard pedagogy in the United States of America. At the time, the only Keyboard Laboratory in the country was being employed to teach second-study musicians at the Sydney Conservatorium; in America they had been an important teaching tool at most Music Colleges since the 1960s. Pamela studied with Dr Larry Rast at Northern Illinois University and at the City University of New York with Dr Sylvia Eversole. On her return to Australia, Pamela conducted group keyboard workshops in four states, encouraging music teachers to set up laboratories and teach not only keyboard skills but composition, arranging and music fundamentals for younger students. By the mid 80s school all around the country were working with this technology, and by the late 90s they were also computerized. Pamela was invited to Japan in 1983 as a guest of the Yamaha Foundation, to view classes and laboratories in a number of cities. She also visited the renowned Yamaha factories in Hamamatsu.
Pamela’s friendship with Geoffrey Tozer was renewed when he settled in the National Capital in the 1980s. Geoffrey became a regular visitor to Narrabundah College working with and supporting, many of the emerging musicians who flocked to study there. In 1990, Pamela moved to Adelaide. She spent a year working with ABC Classic FM then took up the position of Director of Music at Prince Alfred College where she taught for the next 18 years. Geoffrey visited the College a number of times giving concerts, masterclasses and working with some of the more gifted piano students.
In 2009 Pamela resigned to take on the legacy of transcribing the compositions of Geoffrey Tozer. The first volume Pieces from Childhood with the accompanying compact disc performed by Lachlan Redd, was launched in December 2014 and is now available in PDF format on the Tozart website.
Pamela Freeman will appear in the forthcoming documentary film, Geoffrey Tozer: Pure Genius, which is currently in production. (2021)