Carolyn Cross

Awarded for service to arts; education

18 June 1968 – 9 July 2022

Entered on roll: 2023

"Teaching the magic of music"

Carolyn Cross touched the lives of many by teaching music and volunteering her time and enthusiasm to support Tasmanian amateur musicians in a range of school and community bands.

Carolyn completed her Associate Diploma in Music in 1989. In 1996, she started her first permanent music teacher role at Ulverstone High School. She dedicated significant time outside her paid role to helping students rehearse and perform, and supported student ensembles to enter competitions and tour.

Carolyn co-wrote the Tasmanian Curriculum K-10 music syllabus and was curriculum leader and moderator for the North West and West Coast region. In recognition of the success of Carolyn’s music program, she received a Department of Education Award for Educational Excellence in 2004. In 2005 she received a Hardie Fellowship to study at the Lincoln Centre Institute in New York.

Carolyn established the Barrington District Brass Band in 2007, which she ran for several years. Carolyn was the first female musical director of the Latrobe Federal Band. She directed the band between 2005 and 2010 and led them to become B Grade Champions of Tasmania. She also led the Latrobe Federal Youth Band (Juniors and Beginners).

In 2010 Carolyn moved to Hobart and taught music at several schools before moving permanently to Bellerive Primary School in 2012. She worked as part of the instrumental team for the Combined Primary Schools Band Program and conducted the Grade 6 Eastern Band from 2013 to 2015.

From 2015, Carolyn began writing educational resources for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO). This involved writing Teaching Resources Booklets to accompany TSO productions, such as Maximus Musicus Visits the Orchestra (2015) and The Magic of Merlin (2017). She lectured for the University of Tasmania’s Master of Teaching program between 2015 and 2019.

Carolyn received an Australian Society for Music Education Incorporated Music Education for Life award in 2019.

Following her death from cancer in 2022, ex-students told of the unconditional love and support Carolyn provided as a music teacher.

She is survived by her husband Adrian Loone.