Youth Music Camp and Arts Management Workshops

in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

In October 2022, MSO musicians Miranda Brockman (cello), Sarah Curro (violin), Kirstin Kenny (violin), Gabrielle Halloran (viola) and Rohan Dasika (double bass), and four management and one staff member of the MSO travelled to Yogyakarta to work with students from across Indonesia to support the shared vision for cross-cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.

The MSO’s musicians led a series of strings workshops at the Fifth Youth Music Camp, which culminated in a side-by-side performance featuring students and the MSO at the end of the week. MSO management team representatives Callum Moncrieff, Steele Foster, Dylan Stewart, Guy Ross, and Managing Director, Sophie Galaise, delivered an arts management workshop where psychologists, HR professionals and finance students came together with music teachers, musicians, and composers to learn about all facets of running an arts organisation. The MSO team was also lucky to attend a rehearsal of the Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra, which the MSO helped to create (via regular zoom meetings) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MSO’s relationship with the Government of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, His Highness Prince Notonegoro and his team remains strong and on Friday 21 October, the MSO signed a new memorandum of understanding with the Vice Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region, Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya Paku Alam X, to extend the cross-cultural partnership, established in 2015, for another three years.

Agreement with the London Symphony Orchestra

At a special event at the Australian High Commission in London in November 2022, Former Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Lynette Wood, announced a ground-breaking new partnership between the MSO and London Symphony Orchestra.

Enabling cross-cultural collaboration between the two orchestras, the agreement will work to further strengthen partnerships and enhance deep people-to-people links in the arts and cultural sectors. The agreement includes reciprocal touring in Australia and the UK, facilitation of emerging artist exchanges and co-commissioning performances and activities, including digital innovations.

To launch the partnership, the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle will tour Australia in the first half of 2023 with a series of concerts in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, presented jointly by the MSO (and proudly presented by Ryman Healthcare, Premier Partner of the MSO), Sydney Opera House and Queensland Performing Arts Centre. The Melbourne performances will mark the launch of this partnership and its goals of connecting the broader communities of the two orchestras.

The MSO’s visit to London and the partnership announcement was generously supported by the Australian Government, as part of the UK/Australia Season 2021–22. The MSO’s international engagement is made possible thanks to game-changing support from the Gandel Foundation through the MSO’s Now, Forever Future Fund.

“We are thrilled to announce this new partnership with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This historic agreement brings together our two orchestras, representing our two countries with a shared history. Our aim is to strengthen understanding and exchange through the strong bonds of music for the benefit of the communities we serve.”

“This is a proud moment in our deep relationship with the United Kingdom. This collaboration is a clear manifestation of the values of both our countries as cultural powerhouses, partners, and friends. I am delighted that these two world class orchestras will forge ahead in this exciting partnership for the benefit of people all over Australia and the UK.”