Sydney University Symphony Orchestra

The Sydney University Symphony Orchestra (SUSO) is the premier orchestra on the main campus of the University of Sydney.

Sydney University Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1948 by Donald Peart and was originally known as the Pro Musica Orchestra. It is currently made up of around 80 musicians from all faculties across the university. The orchestra's home venue is the neo-gothic Great Hall in the university's sandstone Quadrangle. The orchestra is currently conducted by Luke Spicer.

SUSO is part of the University of Sydney Union's Clubs & Societies program and is run by a committee of eleven students. It receives funding from the University of Sydney Union as well as donations from the public. The current president is Edmond Buzby (oboist) and vice-president is Lachlan Penninkilampi (trumpeter).

Their concert season features four concerts each year, and, through a long-standing connection with the university's Arts Unit, the orchestra has been privileged to perform works by leading Australian composers, including Anne Boyd, Ross Edwards, Peter Sculthorpe, Matthew Hindson and Gordon Hamilton.

In the past, SUSO has also performed with well known soloists, including Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with Kathryn Selby, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 with Gerard Willems, Dvořák's Cello concerto with Timo-Veikko Valve, Richard Strauss' Horn Concerto No. 1 with Julian Leslie, and Robert Schumann's Konzertstück in F major for Four Horns and Orchestra with Robert Johnson, Andrew London, Jack Stephens and Lotti Ropert[1].

Previous conductors include Simon Kenway, Nicholas Routley, Simon Thew, Ben Macpherson OAM, Romano Crevici, Phillip Chu, Gareth Tilley, Colin Piper and George Ellis.

Sydney University Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra
Location The University of Sydney
Concert hall The University of Sydney Great Hall
Principal conductor Luke Spicer

Previous Concerts

In 2006, SUSO performed with the Sydney University Musical Society for Ben Macpherson's farewell concert. It featured Mendelssohn's Elijah and was broadcast on 2MBS. In 2009, SUSO again collaborated with the choir to perform Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.

In 2011, SUSO provided orchestral accompaniment to The Church for the band's thirtieth anniversary concert, "A Psychedelic Symphony", at the Sydney Opera House.

In 2012 SUSO combined with the University of New South Wales Symphony Orchestra to perform Mahler's Symphony No. 1.

In 2014, SUSO joined forces with the Sydney University Musical Society (SUMS) and the Sydney University Wind Orchestra (SUWO) to present the University of Sydney Union Music Showcase in the Great Hall. This event was the first of its kind, in which all three of the university's premier musical ensembles presented a joint concert.[2]

In 2016, SUSO performed Saint-Saëns's Symphony No. 3 "avec orgue" at the University of Sydney Great Hall, using Rudolf von Beckerath's 1972 organ. 2017 will feature a performance of Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 at Christ Church St Laurence, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 at the University of Sydney Great Hall, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in collaboration with SUMS at the Verbrugghen Concert Hall.

In 2017, SUSO opened their season with Bruckner's Symphony No. 4, and, in June that year, commissioned a work from Australian composer Gordon Hamilton, premiering in the second concerto. Along with other works such as Dvořák's Slavonic Dances, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 and Richard Wagner's Overture to Rienzi, the year also included the young emerging composer Nicholas D'Silva's new work 'Lux Aeterna', which the orchestra premiered in their highlight concert in October. This concert featured combined performances with Sydney University Musical Society, the choral group on campus, culminating in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 'Choral'.

Sydney University Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce for their 2018 season, a collaboration with the University of Sydney to present the World War I centenary performance of Karl Jenkins' 'The Armed Man'. Alongside this end-of-year concert, SUSO will also be performing throughout the year, with works such as Smetana's 'Moldau' from Má vlast, Dvořák's Symphony No. 7, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with Clemens Leske, Sibelius' Symphony No. 3, Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 and Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 with Kenichi Mizushima.

References

  1. ↑ "Review: Sydney University Symphony Orchestra's Concert 3 - Honi Soit". Honi Soit. 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
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