BULAWAYO MEMORIES

Academy of Music

History

The beginnings of the present home of the Zimbabwe Academy of Music go back almost sixty years to 1953 when what, in Derek Hudson’s words, was ‘a gauche, solitary and rather unlovely building comprising about a dozen small studios and one larger one for public concerts, surrounded by acres of open ground’ opened for business. The Academy itself had been founded four years earlier in 1949 in rented premises as a non-profit-making organisation, welcoming students of all races and ages and actively seeking to encourage black Zimbabweans to study musical instruments, though its actual origins went even further back to a private establishment originating in the mid-1930s.

The new building had an auspicious debut when Sir John Barbirolli laid the foundation stone on 30 June 1953, though work was by then largely complete. This was what is now the south wing of the Academy and it was but the beginning of a twenty-year programme to create a truly ambitious building. Ten years of fund-raising followed before another structure began to rise, in appearance exactly the same as, but set some distance apart from, its companion, and connected to it by a covered walkway.

The grand design only became finally apparent after several more years and much more fund-raising when the central section of the building united the two isolated wings in elegant harmony. It was the most ambitious part of the scheme and included the main foyer, further studios, administrative offices and the Beit Wing including the Library, but there was still further delay before its completion in 1974 with, most impressive of all, the Robert Sibson Hall. This is now so easily taken for granted that it is easy to overlook the fact that it is one of the finest small recital halls to be found anywhere with perfect sight-lines from every one of its 394 seats and an equally perfect acoustic for music. Sadly, more than forty years on, the hall is still not complete as its designers intended, and in particular it lacks an effective air-conditioning system, almost essential at the height of summer.

The Academy’s fiftieth year was not much cause for celebration and, indeed, was not celebrated: Derek Hudson was in declining health and retired as director in April 2003 and financial clouds were thickening on the horizon. The Academy was almost entirely self-supporting and government grants had dried up years before so that declining numbers made its future ever more doubtful. For fifty years, it had stood for ambition, hope and optimism as thousands of children and adults studied music and took international exams, but to many it seemed as though the end could not be long delayed as covetous eyes were cast upon its facilities and grounds.

Some form of memorial to Derek Hudson seemed essential after his quarter-century at the helm of the Academy and the idea of an appeal in his name for this vital area took root, coupled with the creation of a bust to keep Robert Sibson company in the foyer. Gill Kaufman offered this latter before any request could be made and the result was unveiled on 15 October 2007 on a plinth a few inches taller than Robert’s – Derek’s height meant that he looked down on most so it was thought fitting that he should continue to do so! It shows him at the height of his powers in his fifties – no glasses which he always hated having to wear and in conductor’s white tie.