Music

The musical heritage of the Timorese people is deep and broad.  The Mary MacKillop East Timor Mission (MMETM) has helped individuals in their musical development, as a consequence of the tour of NSW by the Timorese choir Anin Murak, part of St Cecilia’s Choir in Balide, Dili, which MMETM organised in November 2000.

In 2007 and again in 2008 Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva asked MMETM to establish a Music School, which we did with the assistance and expertise of Australian musicians.

During 2009 a great deal of hard work and enthusiasm saw WebCam lessons begun so that students in Timor-Leste could be taught weekly by the teachers in Sydney. Face-to-face lessons were given during these teachers' visits to Timor. The Inaugural Concert was staged in the President's Palace in July, 2009, to the delight of the guests and the Patron, His Excellency Dr. José Ramos-Horta.

To consolidate such a successful beginning, a review of Hadahur's operation was held in April/May, 2010. It has been decided that the current structure of Hadahur Music School will be reshaped and defined as a Music Program among other programs of Institutu Mary MacKillop, with an emphasis on early childhood music, primary school music and piano lessons.

New aims and objectives for the next three years will be designed that focus on the professional and musical development of IMM staff, management training, leadership development and the partial integration of literacy and music.

Further enquiries can be made to Susan Connelly RSJ at MMETM Sydney offices on 61 2 9623 2847, or to António de Padua at our temporary Becora Church offices, Dili.