Adam Wills is a music maniac.

Music is his passion, his work and a large part of his life. 

And to say he has left a mark on the local music sphere and influenced many musicians and children in Scone and the Upper Hunter is an understatement. 

Next month, Upper Hunter children and musical minded people will farewell Adam as he leaves the area to embark on a new adventure and explore new opportunities, musical of course, in New York. 

The young man will finish in his role as the director of the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music and jet set out of the country on January 9.

Adam first became part of the creative arts industry here in the Hunter when he moved to Muswellbrook to take on the position of conservatorium director nine years ago. 

He made the move from Newcastle where he had been busy studying a Masters in Creative Arts specialising in Music at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music. 

Having played percussion instruments since he was a child, Adam has always loved music and loves to play the drum kit and other percussion instruments as a part of any band or group of people. 

One thing he has enjoyed enormously throughout his local career is the opportunity to play with numerous children, visiting local schools on a weekly basis to teach music and play music. 

When he first moved north,  Adam was the percussion teacher at the conservatorium, however after a month he was the acting director and about a year later he became the fourth director of the conservatorium since it first started in 1996.

Adam described his role as quite diverse as his responsibilities have included overseeing the educational programs at the conservatorium which currently has about 750 students from Cessnock in the south to Scone in the north and out to Merriwa. 

He has also been the person in charge of the finances, human resources including the 32 staff and teachers, work health and safety, marketing and all other areas of the organisation. 

The ‘boss man’ tipped one of many highlights of his time in the area as the opportunity to work with many great and talented music teachers.

He said he is also very proud of his many students, some of whom have gone on to study music at a tertiary level and some who have already graduated at high levels. 

Preparing students for music exams, eisteddfods, concerts and their Higher School Certificate examinations is something Adam has put a lot of time and effort into, and enjoyed every minute of.

Music really is his life, as when not at work, Adam has been strongly involved in extra-curricular music activities including the Upper Hunter Shire and Kia-Ora Youth Music Camp. 

His first experience of the camp was at the very first one when he came up from Newcastle as a percussion tutor for the camp, and he has been involved ever since. 

After moving to the area,  Adam became involved in the organisation of the camp and has continued, with others including Gillian Miles, to build the camp to what it is today.

Soon after moving to Muswellbrook, the young man joined the Muswellbrook Shire Concert Band and was since the president for three years.

He still plays the drum kit and percussion instruments in the band.

For the past nine years he has been the conductor and leader of the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music Orchestra, which has put on a show ‘Messiah’ twice. 

Adam said the orchestra had a piece – ‘Hydrology’ – commissioned in 2010, which he is very proud of. 

Throughout the years, Adam has starred in one of the Muswellbrook Amateur Theatrical Society plays, played in the band in several, and this this year he took part in the Singleton Amateur Theatrical Society’s production. 

Since 2007, Adam has been fortunate to join a group of about 40 students, teachers and parents on three separate  international tours. 

The first in 2007 was of the west coast of America where they played as part of the Rose Parade.

The second in 2009, was a tour of Calgary and Florida when the group played as part of the prestigious extravaganza – the Calgary Stampede. 

The final, and extra special tour was of Italy and France in 2011 when the band played in the Rome New Year’s Day Parade which ended at St Peter’s Square and they were personally blessed by the Pope. 

“We have also had a significant increase in public concerts with special visiting artists from the introduction of the Visiting Artist Series. 

“I have really enjoyed my time working with all the students and meeting new families in the area,” Adam said. 

“I’ve also had a great time working with all the high quality teachers here, that is what I will really miss, the people.

“I’m excited and looking forward to my new adventure, but I will really miss the conservatorium and the people,” he said.