Leading international artists descend on Melbourne to teach and perform

The Victorian College of the Arts and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music will have a rich international flavour over the coming weeks, with four renowned foreign artists visiting to teach students. Italian composer Riccardo Vaglini, Japanese percussionist Kuniko Kato, American pianist Craig Shepphard and celebrated costumier Susie Vickery (who divides her time between Britain, India and China) will take part in the Master Teacher Program. The program is supported by Arts Victoria, and involves bringing prominent artists to the University of Melbourne to help mentor and inspire the next generation. Professor Vaglini - who's normally based at the Venice Conservatorium - is known for his contemporary compositions, and as a performer, arranger and editor. He has produced about 800 scores of new music from contemporary composers through the co-operative publisher, ArsPublica, which he founded. Vaglini will participate in a series of one-on-one tutorials with selected VCA Music students during his time as an artist-in-residence. He'll also collaborate with local artist Tom Nicholson to present new work for Radio Alice, which is an exhibition inspired by a decade-long wave of intense social upheaval in Italy during the 1970s.