Paul Paviour: the legendary composer

Returning from the Korean War after his two years in the navy, 21-year-old Mr Paviour took a post at the bank, confused with where his life should go.

Standing on the crossroads, it took one conversation with the Director of Education in Bedfordshire, to change his future. 

“I was always interested in music and composition, and I remember the director approaching me, talking about the lack of enthusiastic music teachers,” Mr Paviour said. “He asked if I was interested, and I said yes.” 

In two years he completed two degrees and four diplomas at the Royal College of Music in London. After graduation he was offered a job in Yorkshire as a music teacher. 

“I never knew where Bathurst was, or NSW," he said. “ I saw the advertisement in the newspaper and decided to take it.”

After a few years in Bathurst, Mr Paviour landed in Goulburn in 1975. Asked to join the Goulburn Teachers College, now the police academy, he was the first director of the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium and has been involved in the workings for the past 30 years. 

The director, musician and composer has participated in multiple distinguished performances around the country and was chosen to represent Australia overseas as part of a choir, singing to the Pope. 

Today he has written up to 300 scores of music and has a dedicated concert hall in the Regional Conservatorium. 

“When you have a terrible day you can sit down and play and it’s an emotional release – all the arts are an emotional release,” he said.

“When I’m writing or playing music you feel like your contributing something to life, and it makes you happier.”