Vestjysk Musikkonservatorium

[u]For post-2010 credits, please refer to Syddansk Musikkonservatorium, Esbjerg[/u] Vestjysk Musikkonservatorium, abbreviated VMK, is a Danish music academy founded 1946 in Esbjerg. After a merger 1 January 2010, VMK became a branch of Syddansk Musikkonservatorium & Skuespillerskole - and renamed Syddansk Musikkonservatorium, Esbjerg. The name, 'Vestjysk Musikkonservatorium', translated into English is 'West Jutland Music Academy'. History Vestjysk Musikkonservatorium (VMK) was established 1946 on private initiative. In 1948 VMK became a self-governing institution, and in 1972 it was taken over by the state (Ministry of Cultural Affairs). In the early days VMK was run as both a conservatory and a music school. In the 1950s VMK was located at Esbjerg Statsskole. Together with Esbjerg Art Museum it moved into the new builded Kunstpavillonen (the Art Pavilion) in 1962, in the City Park near the Water Tower. In 1974 VMK moved into larger premises in the former municipal school, Vestre Skole, located in the inner city, and, finally, in September 1998 into the rebuilded former power plant building in Kirkegade (Esbjerg Elværk) which houses the Concert Hall in the old turbine hall (with a large Marcussen concert organ), the live venue Café Ørsted, and the studio Tuborg Studiet.