1 AUGUST
HIDDEN THOUGHTS II
Iwaki Auditorium
ARTISTS
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Weiss CF* conductor
Lotte Betts-Dean mezzo-soprano
Richard Piper narrator
* Cybec Assistant Conductor
PROGRAM
KATY ABBOTT** Hidden Thoughts II: Return to Sender
Our musical Acknowledgment of Country, Long Time Living Here by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO, will be performed at this concert.
** MSO Composer in Residence
Content Warning
We recognise the subject matter of Katy Abbott’s work Hidden Thoughts II could be an intense and emotional experience for some, especially those directly affected by offshore detention.
This concert may be recorded for future broadcast on MSO.LIVE
Duration: 1 hour, no interval Timings listed are approximate.
In consideration of your fellow patrons, the MSO thanks you for silencing and dimming the light on your phone.
ACKNOWLEDGING COUNTRY
In the first project of its kind in Australia, the MSO has developed a musical Acknowledgment of Country with music composed by Yorta Yorta composer Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO, featuring Indigenous languages from across Victoria. Generously supported by Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and the Commonwealth Government through the Australian National Commission for UNESCO, the MSO is working in partnership with Short Black Opera and Indigenous language custodians who are generously sharing their cultural knowledge.
The Acknowledgement of Country allows us to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which we perform in the language of that country and in the orchestral language of music.
Long Time Living Here
As a Yorta Yorta/Yuin composer the responsibility I carry to assist the MSO in delivering a respectful acknowledgement of country is a privilege which I take very seriously. I have a duty of care to my ancestors and to the ancestors on whose land the MSO works and performs.
As MSO continues to grow its knowledge and understanding of what it means to truly honour the First people of this land, the musical acknowledgment of country will serve to bring those on stage and those in the audience together in a moment of recognition as as we celebrate the longest continuing cultures in the world.
– Deborah Cheetham Fraillon
AO
MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Committed to shaping and serving the state it inhabits, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is Australia’s preeminent orchestra and a cornerstone of Victoria’s rich, cultural heritage.
Each year, the MSO and MSO Chorus present more than 180 public events across live performances, TV, radio and online broadcasts, and via its online concert hall, MSO.LIVE, engaging an audience of more than five million people in 56 countries. In 2024 the organisation will release its first two albums on the newly established MSO recording label.
With an international reputation for excellence, versatility and innovation, the MSO works with culturally diverse and First Nations artists to build community and deliver music to people across Melbourne, the state of Victoria and around the world.
In 2024, Jaime Martín leads the Orchestra for his third year as MSO Chief Conductor. Maestro Martín leads an Artistic Family that includes Principal Conductor Benjamin Northey, Cybec Assistant Conductor Leonard Weiss CF, MSO Chorus Director Warren Trevelyan-Jones, Composer in Residence Katy Abbott, Artist in Residence
Erin Helyard, MSO First Nations Creative Chair Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO, Young Cybec Young Composer in Residence Naomi Dodd, and Artist in Association Christian Li.
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra respectfully acknowledges the people of the Eastern Kulin Nations, on whose un‑ceded lands we honour the continuation of the oldest music practice in the world.
KATY ABBOTT COMPOSER
Composer Katy Abbott is forensically curious about what makes us tick. Her music explores our passions, fears and motivations using contemporary musical flavours in traditional musical settings. Musing on the concepts of connection, place and humour, Abbott’s compositions are performed, published and recorded around the world.
Abbott’s work has won numerous prestigious awards including a 2-year Australia Council of the Arts Fellowship (Music), Paul Lowin Prize (song-cycle), Boston Metro Opera ‘Gold Prize’ for Art Song and the Albert H. Maggs Prize for Composition.
Abbott has five solo albums of her work on ABC Classics and MOVE Records and her work is regularly programmed in festival, chamber and orchestral settings in Australia and overseas.
A central theme in Abbott’s work is ‘connection’, particularly in the triadic relationship between audience, performer, and composer. Although this theme exists throughout Abbott’s whole catalogue, her Hidden Thoughts™ Series is where she is deliberately and overtly exploring connection in relation to self, each other and our world. Each Hidden Thoughts work looks at the macro (societal) human connection as well as the intimate (one-to-one connections within relationships, families, friendships and self) and she does this through stories and capturing the essence of the extraordinary in the ‘ordinary’.
Katy has been Senior Lecturer in Composition at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne for 10+ years and founded The Artists’ Mentor which supports mid-career and established artists across disciplines to build long-term, vibrant practices with impact and meaning.
LEONARD WEISS CF CONDUCTOR
Leonard Weiss CF is an Australian conductor and educator. He is proud to be the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Cybec Assistant Conductor. Leonard previously held the position of 2022 New Zealand Assistant Conductor in Residence, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s 2020–21 BSO-Peabody Fellow.
Highlights of Leonard’s past season include Riccardo Muti’s Italian Opera Academy in Tokyo, the Tanglewood Conducting Seminar with Andris Nelsons, observing Salzburg Festival rehearsals at the selection of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra musicians, and return engagements with the Auckland Philharmonia.
In addition to a busy MSO schedule this year, Leonard returns to National Opera for Suor Angelica. He also conducts all Australian symphony orchestras as part of the 2023–24 Australian Conducting Academy.
Leonard studied conducting with Marin Alsop at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. There he was acclaimed as Peabody’s “rising star” and conducted the National Symphony Orchestra in a masterclass with Gianandrea Noseda.
Leonard’s recent awards include the Mr and Mrs Gerald Frank New Churchill Fellowship, an Australia Council Career Development Grant, and an Ars Musica Australis Arts Fellowship. Leonard was a finalist for 2016 Young Australian of the Year, and was named 2016 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year for Youth Arts and Multimedia.
Leonard Weiss’ position as Cybec Assistant Conductor is supported by Cybec Foundation.
LOTTE BETTS-DEAN MEZZO-SOPRANO
Lotte Betts-Dean is an Australian mezzo soprano based in the UK with a wide ranging repertoire and a passion for curation, programming and collaborative project development. Praised for her “irrepressible sense of drama and unmissable, urgent musicality” (The Guardian) and “arrestingly opulent voice” (Gramophone), Lotte is equally at home in chamber music, art song, contemporary repertoire of all kinds, early music, opera and narration.
Lotte is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, an Ambassador for Donne UK—an organization supporting women in music—and recently won Young Artist of the Year at the 2024 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards. Lotte is a regular at major festivals and venues across the UK, Australia and Europe, including Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, Aldeburgh Festival, Oxford Song, West Cork Chamber Music and Australian Festival of Chamber Music, and operatic credits in baroque, 20th century and contemporary opera include Grand Théâtre de Genève, Bayerische Staatsoper, Nevill Holt Festival and State Opera of South Australia. Regular Australian collaborators include Van Diemen’s Band, La Compañia, Rubiks Ensemble, Ensemble Q and MSO. Lotte studied at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, ANAM and the Royal Academy of Music.
Recent recordings have been released on Delphian Records (Stuart MacRae, Arthur Keegan) Another Timbre (Catherine Lamb) NAXOS (Phillipos Tsalahouris) and Divine Art Métier (Michael Finnissy), with further albums due for release on Platoon (Schubert), BIS (Brett Dean) and Delphian (Britten). Lotte returns to Australia this October for performances at Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and a Tasmanian tour with Van Diemen’s Band.
RICHARD PIPER NARRATOR
Richard has spent forty-four years of his career on stage. Trained in London, he was soon performing on the West End in Grease and Elvis, and came to Australia in 1987 with cult cabaret band The Bouncing Czecks. Most recently, Richard appeared in Seventeen for Melbourne Theatre Company and Death of a Salesman for Red Line Productions. For Melbourne Theatre Company, he’s appeared in over forty productions, including: As You Like it, The Lady in the Van, Twelfth Night, Born Yesterday, Double Indemnity, Ghosts, Music, The Gift, Drowsy Chaperone, The Daylight Atheist (Green Room Award for Best Actor). For Melbourne’s Malthouse: The Black Rider, ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore. For Sydney Theatre Company: The Secret River, Gross und Klein, Great Expectations, Moby Dick. Bell Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The War of the Roses, Henry V, Henry IV. STCSA: Moby Dick, Marat Sade, Restoration. Also, an accomplished musical theatre performer, Richard played the mayor in the award-winning, Come from Away, in addition to roles in Oklahoma!, Billy Elliot and Rocky Horror. Richard collaborates with the Flinders Quartet as a Dramaturg and Director.
MUSICIANS PERFORMING IN THIS CONCERT
FIRST VIOLINS
Anne-Marie Johnson
Acting Assistant Concertmaster
David Horowicz#
Sarah Curro
Dr Harry Imber#
Peter Fellin
Karla Hanna
Michelle Ruffolo
Emily Beauchamp*
Clare Carrick*
Michael Loftus-Hills*
SECOND VIOLINS
Matthew Tomkins
Principal
The Gross Foundation#
Mary Allison
Cong Gu
Newton Family in memory of Rae Rothfield#
Philippa West
Andrew Dudgeon AM#
Roger Young
Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan#
Jacqueline Edwards *
Ioana Tache*
Oksana Thompson*
VIOLAS
Jenny Khafagi
Acting Principal
Gabrielle Halloran
Acting Assistant Principal
Katharine Brockman
Anthony Chataway
Lucas Levin*
Isabel Morse*
CELLOS
Rachael Tobin
Associate Principal
Anonymous#
Caleb Wong
Acting Assistant Principal
Alexandra Partridge*
Anna Pokorny*
DOUBLE BASSES
Rohan Dasika
Acting Assistant Principal
Luca Arcaro*
Correct as of 23 July 2024.
Learn more about our musicians on the MSO website
* Denotes Guest Musician # Position supported by
PROGRAM NOTES
In 2013, barrister Julian Burnside AO QC, asked Australians to write letters of comfort and encouragement to asylum seekers detained on the island of Nauru. Nearly 2000 letters arrived over time. Each letter was forwarded to an individual asylum seeker with a self-addressed, stamped envelope so the detainees could reply to the sender if they wished.
On 22 December 2014, Burnside received three large boxes from The Department of Immigration and Border Protection. They contained all but nine of the letters posted to asylum seekers. The letters were unopened and marked “Return to sender”.
Hidden Thoughts II: Return to Sender is the second in a series of three pieces developed by composer Katy Abbott. In Hidden Thoughts I she acknowledged the secret thoughts of women, here she brings to life words hidden by political decision makers. It pays homage to Australians who took the time to tell their stories; to empathise, to connect and to welcome strangers in need of a home. It also pays homage to those people, whose voices will only be heard in the silences; the negative space.
Abbott regrets not having written her own letter in 2013, and so the opportunity to unpack hundreds of letters from boxes and to bring these ‘thoughts’ to light was irresistible. “You will hear the voices of individuals as well as a universal voice that represents all of these people—a collective voice embodied in word and sound.” she says.
“Hidden Thoughts 1, played on the relationship between audience, composer and performer, and explores how the audience’s contribution
impacts this relationship.” She adds. “You, the audience, are also invited to contribute to this work. You are invited to sing the final movement with the performers and to add to the universal plea to welcome these people home”.
This piece is an important contribution to our understanding and knowledge of social connectivity.
© Maureen Johnson 2020
LIBRETTO
COMPILED BY KATY ABBOTT + MAUREEN JOHNSON
i: Everyone Is Precious
This is a letter from one human being to another; from one person who is old, to you who have had the courage to escape impossible situations only to land up part of another political situation. I have never had to cope with what you are dealing with, yet life itself manages to teach you some truths. One of these is that everyone is precious and that treating someone badly is to injure yourself.
Normally when you write a letter, you address it to a particular person. But I cannot with this letter because I don’t know who I’m writing to.
It seems silly to be sitting here writing this to you, when I am drinking coffee ahead of a university class; with people enjoying overpriced juices and smoothies.
The more I read the more it saddens me.
You are never far from my thoughts.
‘Dear David’ or ‘Dear Kate’, …but I cannot with this letter because I don’t know who I’m writing to; although I hope to get to know you.
I have tried to read a lot about what life on Nauru is like for people in your situation. The more I read, the more it saddens me. I guess that’s what led to me wanting to write to you; even just to give you a few moments distraction from what you are feeling. I’m sorry I can’t offer you more.
I am writing to you, even though we’ve never met because it’s nice to receive letters. Letters are like a piece of
someone, in a moment where all they were thinking of, is you. I tend to keep all of the letters that people send me for that reason – it’s a piece of them that I can return to at any time. Sometimes, just a connection with someone can be a powerful change in itself.
I hope to get to know you.
It feels strange to be writing instead of typing or texting.
Sometimes just a connection with someone can be a powerful change in itself.
Send back the envelope…
I realise English may not be the best language to write in but hopefully someone will translate and, if you wish to just post the enclosed envelope back, I will know we have connected.
…I will know we have connected.
I hope to get to know you.
I like people not by race or creed but by the way people act towards others; accepting differences. I don’t know what I would do if I had to leave Australia. If life had become difficult. Perhaps you could explain the way.
If there are any young people that would be interested, my daughter who is 16 could write to another young girl who is seeking friendship through letter writing.
My daughter tells me that some students say that asylum seekers are terrorists, which she knows is not true. I tell her to ask them ‘How do you know? What is your proof’? I advise using small words when she talks to these people. Those
who criticise me for my stance would call me a ‘dogooder’ or a ‘bleeding heart’, as if I would be insulted by these words. I would ask them if I should be an ‘evil-doer’? Should I remove all the blood from my heart to please them? I’m sure they would feel differently in your situation... If I ever flee my house or leave my country because of war, famine, or persecution, I honestly don’t know how I would cope. My heart goes out to you.
ii: Where You Are
GREETINGS new penfriend!. Below are all the things on my desk right now. As you can see, I like my lip-balm. Footscray is an interesting suburb. It is full of people from many different places in the world including Vietnam, China, Italy, Greece, Sudan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and India... I hope you and your family will be able to see the place for yourselves – enjoy rice paper rolls, rotis, ricotta filled cannoli, pastry and spicy curries.
I can hear the television turned on in another room – the cricket world cup is on. I think Australia are playing Sri Lanka and from what I can gather, Australia are not going too well. I barely follow any sports but there is something comforting about cricket on TV. I always associate it with summertime and family and everyone being together.
The books I like are crime novels or murder mysteries. I like supernatural stories too – they are very popular at the moment – stories about werewolves and magical people who are trying to get along in the normal world. Perhaps these are popular because we all wish we could have special powers and we are all afraid we are not the same as everyone else We get lots of lovely coloured birds on our back veranda. I am enclosing photos of them – and a stamped
envelope in case you would like to write back to me.
We welcome you here.
iii: Hello
Write to me. I’m sure you will find my interest in amphipods boring like everybody else does but we can laugh about that!
Unfortunately, I can only speak English. I visit a Brisbane detention centre twice a week and I’m learning Farsi (very slowly – it’s a difficult language), but I live with someone from Afghanistan so I am learning Dari/Hazaregi too!
I am writing to you to say welcome.
Hello new friend.
Dear friend in the world.
To the person this letter finds.
Dear friend.
To the person receiving this letter.
Hello beautiful people!
Hello whoever you are.
Dear friend, I really hope this letter reaches you.
To the person this letter finds.
To someone brave.
Hello my friend.
Hello my new pen pal. I hope you’re well – or as well as you can be.
I don’t know who’ll get this letter, but I’m writing from Melbourne, Australia.
To the person this letter finds.
Dear unknown refugee.
Dear potential pen pal.
Mate, I don’t know who you are or anything about you – but I care about you.
Hello.
Hello my friend.
Hello, hello.
Hello? I would like to know your name –not your number.
I am hoping this letter may be the beginning of a new friendship.
Dear Esteemed Asylum Seeker.
I call you friend. Welcome to Australia.
Please turn pages quietly
Dear My Future Pal. What up King? (Australian slang for how are you?). I’m a 19 year-old Psych student – but way wiser beyond my years.
I’m eighty-five years; I am a widow. I belong to a group. We raise money for refugees. My very best friend is from Iran. One of his names is Mohammad.
One of his names is Mohammad. He was in detention for many years and so I wrote to him for many years. When he was released, my family sent money for him to fly to me. When I met him, we cried. We all like him very much. I feel that he is my son and I love him.
When I was a boy of 10, I had a penfriend in USA. When I was 13, I had a penfriend in Japan - we are still friends. I have worked with and taught many people who have arrived in Australia from many countries – these people became my ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ in fact.
I call you friend because, although we have never met, I hope one day we can meet.
iv: Twenty-year Old Girl
I’m a twenty-year old girl. I feel for you because I’m going through some heartache too.
My heart has been broken, I’m very sad. And although we are apart, and I do not know you, I care about you. I care about you.
v: Internal Song
I live in Sydney. I love surfing. It is my passion and my escape. I believe it is important for everyone to have an escape – something you can do to make you feel alive.
I have lost my husband almost two years ago now. I miss him so much but unlike you and many of your companions, have my family near me.
What would you like to do with your life? Perhaps you enjoy reading? If so, let me know and I’ll see if I can send you some books.
The other day my grandson was playing, I asked him a question. He didn’t answer so I asked him again. Again, no answer. And then looked up at me and said ‘Nan. I’m focusing’. Indeed he was. It’s important to focus. And so, as this year closes and another is opening up, I am focusing on you. I am sure you are courageous, you certainly need to be resilient. I wish you well, I wish you peace, I send you love. Please write to me (if you want) and tell me something about your dream for the future.
When I was three, my parents moved to Australia. Even though I love Australia I think my body is used to Irish weather; I always burn in the sub and get sweaty anytime it’s over 27 degrees…. I think cats are evil, they always want to be fed but they are not really loving in return. People always say a dogs life is fantastic but actually a dog has very little control over its own future... I am somebody who loves the idea of the potential of the future and the things I can achieve and adventures I can go on.
Yesterday, a former prime minister of Australia, Mr Gough Whitlam passed away. Since this time and while listening to all the news, I have been thinking about what gives us hope (and the people that inspire us). It’s such a precious gift.
vi: Shame (Hymn)
Dismay. Please know, we don’t think this is right or just. Truly saddened. Deeply ashamed. Sad. Cruel and unfair. Not proud. Appalled.
Totally disagree.
We feel helpless; desperately sorry. We feel ashamed. Scandalous.
Horrified and deeply sad. Truly shamed. Sorry. We feel shame, ashamed. Are you okay? Are you okay?
vii: Tell Me What You Ate For Lunch
At the moment, winter is approaching but we can’t tell what it will be like. At the moment, winter is approaching but we can’t tell what it will be like.
It’s been raining but not been cold. It has been very good for the garden especially as we’ve had some very dry years and some hot summers in the past few years.
I teach 10- and 11-year-olds. It’s a nice age, just before the hormones kick in.
I was born in South Africa and immigrated to Australia. We love it here. It takes a while to settle in but over time it has become home. I know how hard it is to leave your home country – it takes tremendous courage. There are many kind Australians. I wanted you to know that.
If you are a child, I will dance and sing with you. If you are an old person, I will just go along, longing for peace.
I find walking along beaches is my favourite pastime. I have enclosed one of my finds; a beautiful shell. I hope it remains uncrushed for you to enjoy.
I understand that at the moment you may not feel like you can write about things. But just a few lines would be okay. Tell me what you ate for lunch or anything about how you pass the time. Do you have family?
I wish every human being has the same chance that I have to decide how my life
happens. That is why I am writing to you.
Next to our house is a mulberry tree which the children climb. And get covered in sticky purple juices. This purple is my favourite kind.
Is there anything I can help you with? How can I help you? Most of us just want to help. Are you okay?
Everyone is precious.
viii: Luxury Of Choice
I am able-bodied and have the luxury of choice and have not had my life threatened or my family’s. I am free to express my political opinion. I have been given the opportunity to complete a second degree. I can marry anyone I choose or not get married at all. I can walk out my front door any time I choose – [and go to my Thursday evening class].
ix: Not All Australians
Not all Australians feel this way. Not many of us believe what the government has to say. So few of us believe that people can be treated so inhumanly.
You are not forgotten. Many Australians think about you every day and despair.
I am so upset, this is beyond absurd. Many of us are aware of the injustice, the cruelty.
Not all Australians are against the people who are trying to come here. There are many who are angry. You are being listened to and you have been heard.
We are begging them to change. I hope you are staying strong and remember you have friends who care about you in Australia, who think we are able to share our good things.
You are not forgotten.
There are Australians who wish to share this big country with you. We are begging them for change. Not all Australians.
There are many of us who care. We wish you could be safe here. We hate the way our government is treating you, We are begging them to change It upsets us that you are in detention not knowing when you will get out We are fighting. We will go to elections with our anger and your pain.
I am ashamed, I am so upset.
I want you to know not all Australians have bought into these dreadful rules. A benchmark for brutality that future governments won’t repeat.
Dishonourable, cruel, this punishment being inflicted on you.
Many people in Australia care about you.
Many Australians are ashamed. Many of us are ashamed Deeply saddened and ashamed.
x: Hymn
I believe my country is kind at its heart; it’s just that sometimes we forget. We are saddened to see you locked up without consent.
Without proper treatment, we want to share your voice (do not give up hope).
I want our country to understand who you are; where you’re from.
Please know you’re not forgotten, thousands of Australians are fighting to have these laws changed. I believe our nation can do better.
I am writing to you to say ‘stay strong’. I want you to know not all Australians are hostile idiots. I’m so sorry this letter is necessary to explain.
Not in my name.
xi: Where I Am, Where You Are (Woolongong)
My husband is an architect and our work means we go into many people’s homes and talk to our clients about the way they live in their homes and how they would like to improve on it. Of course, nobody lives in the same way and everyone wants different things and the architect has to be skilled at making sure everyone is happy! This is when an architect must also be a relationship counsellor!!
Woollongong is a beautiful place
I live near rainforest
I live far from the rat race
I live in the suburbs, north of and south of the city
In the city
I live in Wooroloo
I live close to, far from and nearby
My home is near to town
You are so far from, Your home is so far from here.
I’m sorry you are in Nauru.
I have a home you could live in I am close to the beach
In Geelong, 75 kilometres from Melbourne
There is the ocean near by I live close to, far from and near by I have no notion of what it’s like there
I can hear you sometimes
Far from your home.
I want to tell you you’re home.
The weather has been unusually lovely
We’ve been able to sit outside
In our place
We have a place
We are close to the town, far from the shops,
Near a service station, where there is a lot of noise.
I can’t abide heat
But it’s cooling in the evenings. It’s cooling down.
Recently I worked in North Queensland
It’s hot there, like where you are
You are uncomfortable,
I know that
Where are you, and what’s it like You have my sympathy.
I don’t like the heat.
I live on the north coast, in the hills of Perth
On the west coast, in the far south, Inland, by a river.
There’s a creek at the back of our Our place.
I live close to, far from and near by The one earth we live on, that we all share
The colours are amazing Red earth, green hills and blue sea. We live in a tiny old house
Beside a big lake
People love to sail and windsurf
On the far side of the lake is a thin strip of forest
On the other side of that the Pacific Inland there are farms that graze cattle I lived in a big town, now I live in a small town
Wollongong is beautiful
Here the birds are singing, A beautiful Autumn day with clear blue skies
Views over the Indian ocean
Over the pacific, across to the far side of the river
I look outside there are some clouds in the sky
I wonder what sky you are looking up at.
xii: Hope
I hope my letter will relieve you some of your pain.
I hope you can hang in there until this discontent brings change.
I hope my letter will give you hope. You are not alone.
I hope.
I have hope for you but not much for us. If this letter can bring you hope. I wish for you hope.
I hope.
I hope.
Keep your Hope.
If I were religious, I would pray for you
but I am not.
So instead I live my life with you in my mind. In all of the mundane things I do and know you cannot, like vacuuming the floor, doing the shopping, driving the car, watching television, tending the garden, riding my bicycle, playing on the trampoline with my children, going to the library, visiting the dentist, paining, knitting, going to the park – I keep you in my mind with the knowledge of just how special these things are. They are worth fighting for and I believe you should have the right to them as well.
I wish for you hope.
xiii: Yours Sincerely
Thinking of you, even though I don’t know your name. Blessings to you whoever you might be. Wishing you, success and happiness. Wishing you hope, a speedy, successful assessment process. Yours in friendship. Yours in love. Yours in respect. Your friend.
Sending you strength and courage. Sending you thoughts. Sending you all I can muster. Sending you love. May God bless you. I fear you are alone but may he keep everyone of you safe. Offering you all our love and support Offering you peace; of mind, of heart, of soul.
Wish you the hand of friendship. Offering you our prayers, our thoughts, hugs and kisses.
Watching television, going to the library. Visiting the dentist, doing the shopping...
...the mundane things I do and know you cannot.
xiv: Welcome
We welcome you here (also sung by audience).
SUPPORTERS
MSO PATRON
Her Excellency Professor, the Honourable
Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE
The Gandel Foundation
The Gross Foundation
Besen Family Foundation
Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio
Harold Mitchell Foundation
Lady Primrose Potter AC CMRI
Cybec Foundation
The Pratt Foundation
The Ullmer Family Foundation
Anonymous (1)
ARTIST CHAIR BENEFACTORS
Chief Conductor Chair Jaime Martín
Supported in memory of Eva and
Marc Besen
Concertmaster Chair
David Li AM and Angela Li
Cybec Assistant Conductor Chair
Leonard Weiss CF
Cybec Foundation
Acting Associate Concertmaster
Tair Khisambeev
Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio
Cybec Young Composer in Residence
Naomi Dodd
Cybec Foundation
PROGRAM BENEFACTORS
Now & Forever Fund: International
Engagement Gandel Foundation
Cybec 21st Century Australian
Composers Program Cybec Foundation
First Nations Emerging Artist Program
The Ullmer Family Foundation
East meets West The Li Family Trust
Community and Public Programs
AWM Electrical, City of Melbourne, Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family Foundation
Live Online and MSO Schools Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family Foundation
Student Subsidy Program Anonymous
MSO Academy Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio, Mary Armour, Christopher Robinson in memory of Joan P Robinson
Jams in Schools Melbourne Airport, Department of Education Victoria, through the Strategic Partnerships
Program, AWM Electrical, Jean Hadges, Hume City Council, Marian and EH Flack Trust, and Flora and Frank Leith Trust.
Regional Touring AWM Electrical, Creative Victoria, Freemasons Foundation
Victoria, Robert Salzer Foundation, Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation
Sidney Myer Free Concerts Sidney Myer
MSO Trust Fund and the University of Melbourne, City of Melbourne Event Partnerships Program
PLATINUM PATRONS $100,000+
AWM Electrical
Besen Family Foundation
The Gross Foundation
Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio
David Li AM and Angela Li
Lady Primrose Potter AC
Anonymous (1)
VIRTUOSO PATRONS $50,000+
Jolene S Coultas
Dr Harry Imber
Margaret Jackson AC
Packer Family Foundation
The Ullmer Family Foundation
Anonymous (1)
IMPRESARIO PATRONS $20,000+
H Bentley
Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan
The Hogan Family Foundation
Elizabeth Proust AO and Brian Lawrence
Lady Marigold Southey AC
The Sun Foundation
Gai and David Taylor
Weis Family
The Yulgilbar Foundation
Anonymous (2)
MAESTRO PATRONS
$10,000+
John and Lorraine Bates
Margaret Billson and the late Ted Billson
Jannie Brown
Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM
Ken Ong Chong OAM
Miss Ann Darby in memory of Leslie J. Darby
Mary Davidson and the late Frederick Davidson AM
Andrew Dudgeon AM
Val Dyke
Jaan Enden
Kim and Robert Gearon
Dr Mary-Jane H Gething AO
Hanlon Foundation
David Horowicz
Peter Lovell
Dr Ian Manning
Maestro Jaime Martín
Rosemary and the late Douglas Meagher
Farrel and Wendy Meltzer
Paul Noonan
Ian and Jeannie Paterson
Hieu Pham and Graeme Campbell
Janet Matton AM & Robin Rowe
Liliane Rusek and Alexander Ushakoff
Glenn Sedgwick
Athalie Williams and Tim Danielson
Lyn Williams AM
PRINCIPAL PATRONS
$5,000+
The Aranday Foundation
Mary Armour
Alexandra Baker
Barbara Bell in memory of Elsa Bell
Bodhi Education Fund
Julia and Jim Breen
Nigel and Sheena Broughton
Janet Chauvel and the late Dr Richard Chauvel
John Coppock OAM and Lyn Coppock
Cuming Bequest
The Dimmick Charitable Trust
Tim and Lyn Edward
Bill Fleming
John and Diana Frew
Sophie Galaise and Clarence Fraser
Carrillo Gantner AC and Ziyin Gantner
Geelong Friends of the MSO
Dr Rhyl Wade and Dr Clem Gruen
Cecilie Hall and the late Hon Michael Watt KC
Louis J Hamon OAM
Dr Keith Higgins and Dr Jane Joshi
Geoff and Denise Illing
Dr Alastair Jackson AM
John Jones
Merv Keehn and Sue Harlow
Peter T Kempen AM
Suzanne Kirkham
Lucas Family Foundation
Dr Jane Mackenzie
Dr Isabel McLean
Gary McPherson
The Mercer Family Foundation
Anne Neil in memory of Murray A. Neil
Newton Family in memory of Rae Rothfield
Jan and Keith Richards
Dr Sam Ricketson and Dr Rosemary Ayton
Andrew and Judy Rogers
Guy Ross
Kate and Stephen Shelmerdine Foundation
Helen Silver AO and Harrison Young
Brain Snape AM
Dr Michael Soon
P & E Turner
Mary Waldron
Janet Whiting AM and Phil Lukies
Dawna Wright and Peter Riedel
The Yulgilbar Foundation
Igor Zambelli
Anonymous (2)
ASSOCIATE PATRONS
$2,500+
Margaret and Barry Amond
Carolyn Baker
Marlyn Bancroft and Peter Bancroft OAM
Janet H Bell
Alan and Dr Jennifer Breschkin
Dr John Brookes and Dr Lucy Hanlon
Lynne Burgess
Dr Lynda Campbell
Oliver Carton
Sage Foundation
Kaye Cleary
Leo de Lange
Sandra Dent
Sophie E Dougall in memory of Libby Harold
Rodney Dux
Diane and Stephen Fisher
Alex Forrest
Steele and Belinda Foster
Barry Fradkin OAM and Dr Pam Fradkin
Anthony Garvey and Estelle O’Callaghan
Janette Gill
R Goldberg and Family
Goldschlager Family Charitable Foundation
Colin Golvan AM KC and Dr Deborah
Golvan
Charles & Cornelia Goode Foundation
Jennifer Gorog
Miss Catherine Gray
Marshall Grosby and Margie Bromilow
Mr Ian Kennedy AM & Dr Sandra Hacker AO
Susan and Gary Hearst
Gillian Hund OAM and Michael Hund
Paul and Amy Jasper
Sandy Jenkins
Melissa Tonkin & George Kokkinos
Dr Jenny Lewis
David R Lloyd
Carolynne Marks
Margaret and John Mason OAM
Ian McDonald
Dr Paul Nisselle AM
Simon O’Brien
Roger Parker and Ruth Parker
Alan and Dorothy Pattison
Ruth and Ralph Renard
James Ring
Tom and Elizabeth Romanowski
Dr Ronald and Elizabeth Rosanove
Christopher Menz and Peter Rose
Marshall Segan in memory of Berek Segan
OBE AM and Marysia Segan
Jeffrey Sher KC and Diana Sher OAM
Steinicke Family
Jenny Tatchell
Christina Turner
Shirley and Jeffrey Zajac
Anonymous (5)
PLAYER PATRONS
($1,000+)
Dr Sally Adams
Jessica Agoston Cleary
Helena Anderson
Margaret Astbury
Geoffrey and Vivienne Baker
Justine Battistella
Michael Bowles & Alma Gill
Allen and Kathryn Bloom
Richard Bolitho
Joyce Bown
Stuart Brown
Suzie Brown OAM and the late Harvey Brown
Roger and Coll Buckle
Jill and Christopher Buckley
Dr Robin Burns and Dr Roger Douglas
Shayna Burns
Ronald and Kate Burnstein
Daniel Bushaway and Tess Hamilton
Peter A Caldwell
Alexandra Champion de Crespigny
Joshua Chye
Breen Creighton and Elsbeth Hadenfeldt
Mrs Nola Daley
Panch Das and Laurel Young-Das
Caroline Davies
Rick and Sue Deering
John and Anne Duncan
Jane Edmanson OAM
Grant Fisher and Helen Bird
Chris Freelance
Applebay Pty Ltd
David H and Esther Frenkiel
Mary Gaidzkar
David I Gibbs AM and Susie O’Neill
Sonia Gilderdale
Dr Celia Godfrey
Dr Marged Goode
Hilary Hall, in memory of Wilma Collie
David Hardy
Tilda and the late Brian Haughney
Cathy Henry
Gwenda Henry
Anthony and Karen Ho
Rod Home
Lorraine Hook
Doug Hooley
Katherine Horwood
Penelope Hughes
Jordan Janssen
Shyama Jayaswal
Basil and Rita Jenkins
Emma Johnson
Sue Johnston
Angela Kayser
Drs Bruce and Natalie Kellett
Anne and Leonard Kennedy
Akira Kikkawa
Dr Judith Kinnear
Dr Richard Knafelc and Mr Grevis Beard
Tim Knaggs
Professor David Knowles and Dr Anne McLachlan
Dr Jerry Koliha and Marlene Krelle
Jane Kunstler
Ann Lahore
Kerry Landman
Janet and Ross Lapworth
Bryan Lawrence
Phil Lewis
Dr Kin Liu
Andrew Lockwood
Elizabeth H Loftus
Chris and Anna Long
Wayne McDonald and Kay Schroer
Lois McKay
Lesley McMullin Foundation
Dr Eric Meadows
Ian Merrylees
Sylvia Miller
Ian Morrey and Geoffrey Minter
Anthony and Anna Morton
Barry and Diane Mowszowski
Laurence O’Keefe and Christopher James
George Pappas AO, in memory of
Jillian Pappas
Susan Pelka
Ian Penboss
Kerryn Pratchett
Peter Priest
John Prokupets
Professor Charles Qin OAM and Kate Ritchie
Michael Riordan and Geoffrey Bush
Cathy Rogers OAM and Dr Peter Rogers AM
Marie Rowland
Jan Ryan
Viorica Samson
Martin and Susan Shirley
P Shore
Janet and Alex Starr
Dr Peter Strickland
Dr Joel and Liora Symons
Russell Taylor and Tara Obeyesekere
Frank Tisher OAM and Dr Miriam Tisher
Margaret Toomey
Andrew and Penny Torok
Ann and Larry Turner
Dr Elsa Underhill and Professor Malcolm Rimmer
Jayde Walker
Edward and Paddy White
Nic and Ann Willcock
Lorraine Woolley
Dr Kelly and Dr Heathcote Wright
C.F. Yeung & Family Philanthropic Fund
Demetrio Zema
Anonymous (16)
OVERTURE PATRONS $500+
Margaret Abbey PSM
Jane Allan and Mark Redmond
Mario M Anders
Jenny Anderson
Doris Au
Lyn Bailey
Robbie Barker
Mr Robin Batterham
Peter Berry and Amanda Quirk
Dr William Birch AM
Robert Bridgart
Miranda Brockman
Dr Robert Brook
Robert and Katherine Coco
Dr John Collins
Warren Collins
Gregory Crew
Sue Cummings
Suzanne Dembo
Carol des Cognets
Bruce Dudon
Dr Catherine Duncan
Margaret Flatman
Brian Florence
Elizabeth Foster
M C Friday
Simon Gaites
David and Geraldine Glenny
Hugo and Diane Goetze
Louise Gourlay OAM
Christine Grenda
Dawn Hales
George Hampel AM KC and
Felicity Hampel AM SC
Alison Heard
Dr Jennifer Henry
Carole and Kenneth Hinchliff
William Holder
Peter and Jenny Hordern
Gillian Horwood
Oliver Hutton
Rob Jackson
Ian Jamieson
Wendy Johnson
Leonora Kearney
Irene Kearsey & Michael Ridley
John and Christine Keys
Lesley King
Heather Law
Pauline and David Lawton
Paschalina Leach
Kay Liu
David Loggia
Helen Maclean
Joy Manners
Morris and Helen Margolis
Sandra Masel in memory of Leigh Masel
Janice Mayfield
Gail McKay
Shirley A McKenzie
Dr Alan Meads and Sandra Boon
Marie Misiurak
Adrian and Louise Nelson
Marian Neumann
Ed Newbigin
Valerie Newman
Dr Judith S Nimmo
Amanda O’Brien
Brendan O’Donnell
Jillian Pappas
Phillip Parker
Sarah Patterson
The Hon Chris Pearce and Andrea Pearce
William Ramirez
Geoffrey Ravenscroft
Dr Christopher Rees
Professor John Rickard
Fred and Patricia Russell
Carolyn Sanders
Dr Marc Saunders
Julia Schlapp
Hon Jim Short and Jan Rothwell Short
Madeline Soloveychik
Allison Taylor
Hugh Taylor and Elizabeth Dax
Reverend Angela Thomas
Geoffrey Thomlinson
Mely Tjandra
Chris and Helen Trueman
Noel and Jenny Turnbull
Rosemary Warnock
Amanda Watson
Michael Whishaw
Deborah and Dr Kevin Whithear OAM
Adrian Wigney
David Willersdorf AM and Linda Willersdorf
Charles and Jill Wright
Richard Ye
Anonymous (16)
FUTURE MSO ($1,000+)
Justine Battistella
Shayna Burns
Jessica Agoston Cleary
Alexandra Champion de Crespigny
Josh Chye
Barry Mowszowski
Jayde Walker
Demetrio Zema
MSO GUARDIANS
Jenny Anderson
David Angelovich
Lesley Bawden
Peter Berry and Amanda Quirk
Joyce Bown
Patricia A Breslin
Jenny Brukner and the late John Brukner
Peter A Caldwell
Luci and Ron Chambers
Sandra Dent
Sophie E Dougall in memory of Libby
Harold
Alan Egan JP
Gunta Eglite
Marguerite Garnon-Williams
Dr Clem Gruen and Dr Rhyl Wade
Louis J Hamon OAM
Charles Hardman and Julianne Bambacas
Carol Hay
Dr Jennifer Henry
Graham Hogarth
Rod Home
Lyndon Horsburgh
Katherine Horwood
Tony Howe
Lindsay and Michael Jacombs
John Jones
Pauline and David Lawton
Robyn and Maurice Lichter
Christopher Menz and Peter Rose
Cameron Mowat
Laurence O’Keefe and Christopher James
David Orr
Matthew O’Sullivan
Rosia Pasteur
Penny Rawlins
Margaret Riches
Anne Roussac-Hoyne and Neil Roussac
Michael Ryan and Wendy Mead
Anne Kieni Serpell and Andrew Serpell
Jennifer Shepherd
Suzette Sherazee
Professors Gabriela and George
Stephenson
Pamela Swansson
Tam Vu and Dr Cherilyn Tillman
Peter and the late Elizabeth Turner
Michael Ullmer AO
The Hon Rosemary Varty
Francis Vergona
Terry Wills Cooke OAM and the late Marian Wills Cooke
Mark Young
Anonymous (23)
The MSO gratefully acknowledges the support of the following Estates:
Norma Ruth Atwell
Angela Beagley
Barbara Bobbe
Michael Francois Boyt
Christine Mary Bridgart
Margaret Anne Brien
Ken Bullen
Deidre and Malcolm Carkeek
The Cuming Bequest
Margaret Davies
Blair Doig Dixon
Neilma Gantner
Angela Felicity Glover
The Hon Dr Alan Goldberg AO QC
Derek John Grantham
Delina Victoria Schembri-Hardy
Enid Florence Hookey
Gwen Hunt
Family and Friends of James Jacoby
Audrey Jenkins
Joan Jones
Pauline Marie Johnston
Christine Mary Kellam
C P Kemp
Jennifer Selina Laurent
Sylvia Rose Lavelle
Peter Forbes MacLaren
Joan Winsome Maslen
Lorraine Maxine Meldrum
Prof Andrew McCredie
Jean Moore
Joan P Robinson
Maxwell and Jill Schultz
Miss Sheila Scotter AM MBE
Marion A I H M Spence
Molly Stephens
Gwennyth St John
Halinka Tarczynska-Fiddian
Jennifer May Teague
Elisabeth Turner
Albert Henry Ullin
Jean Tweedie
Herta and Fred B Vogel
Dorothy Wood
Joyce Winsome Woodroffe
COMMISSIONING CIRCLE
Cecilie Hall and the late Hon Michael Watt KC
Tim and Lyn Edward
Weis Family
FIRST NATIONS CIRCLE
John and Lorraine Bates
Equity Trustees
Colin Golvan AM KC and Dr Deborah
Golvan
Maestro Jaime Martín
Elizabeth Proust AO and Brian Lawrence
Guy Ross
The Sage Foundation
Michael Ullmer AO and Jenny Ullmer
ADOPT A MUSICIAN
Margaret Billson and the late Ted Billson
Peter Edwards
Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan
Roger Young
Andrew Dudgeon AM
Rohan de Korte, Philippa West
Tim and Lyn Edward
John Arcaro
Dr John and Diana Frew
Rosie Turner
Sophie Galaise and Clarence Fraser
Stephen Newton
Dr Mary-Jane Gething AO
Monica Curro
The Gross Foundation
Matthew Tomkins
Dr Clem Gruen and Dr Rhyl Wade
Robert Cossom
Jean Hadges
Prudence Davis
Cecilie Hall and the late Hon Michael Watt KC
Saul Lewis
The Hanlon Foundation
Abbey Edlin
David Horowicz
Anne Marie Johnson
Dr Harry Imber
Sarah Curro, Jack Schiller
Margaret Jackson AC
Nicolas Fleury
Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio
Elina Fashki, Benjamin Hanlon,
Tair Khisambeev, Christopher Moore
Peter T Kempen AM
Rebecca Proietto
Rosemary and the late Douglas Meagher
Craig Hill
Professor Gary McPherson
Rachel Shaw
Anne Neil
Eleanor Mancini
Newton Family in memory of Rae Rothfield
Cong Gu
Patricia Nilsson
Natasha Thomas
Andrew and Judy Rogers
Michelle Wood
Glenn Sedgwick
Tiffany Cheng, Shane Hooton
Anonymous
Rachael Tobin
HONORARY APPOINTMENTS
Life Members
John Gandel AC and Pauline Gandel AC
Jean Hadges
Sir Elton John CBE
Lady Primrose Potter AC CMRI
Jeanne Pratt AC
Lady Southey AC
Michael Ullmer AO and Jenny Ullmer
MSO Ambassador
Geoffrey Rush AC
The MSO honours the memory of Life Members
The late Marc Besen AC and the late Eva Besen AO
John Brockman OAM
The Honourable Alan Goldberg AO QC
Harold Mitchell AC
Roger Riordan AM
Ila Vanrenen
MSO BOARD
Chairman
David Li AM
Co-Deputy Chairs
Margaret Jackson AC
Di Jameson OAM
Managing Director
Sophie Galaise
Board Directors
Shane Buggle
Andrew Dudgeon AM
Martin Foley
Lorraine Hook
Gary McPherson
Farrel Meltzer
Edgar Myer
Glenn Sedgwick
Mary Waldron
Company Secretary
Demetrio Zema
MSO ARTISTIC FAMILY
Jaime Martín
Chief Conductor
Benjamin Northey
Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor –Learning and Engagement
Leonard Weiss CF
Cybec Assistant Conductor
Sir Andrew Davis CBE †
Conductor Laureate (2013–2024)
Hiroyuki Iwaki †
Conductor Laureate (1974–2006)
Warren Trevelyan-Jones
MSO Chorus Director
Erin Helyard
Artist in Residence
Karen Kyriakou
Artist in Residence, Learning and Engagement
Christian Li
Young Artist in Association
Katy Abbott
Composer in Residence
Naomi Dodd
Cybec Young Composer in Residence
Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO
First Nations Creative Chair
Artistic Ambassadors
Xian Zhang
Tan Dun
Lu Siqing
The MSO relies on your ongoing philanthropic support to sustain our artists, and support access, education, community engagement and more. We invite our supporters to get close to the MSO through a range of special events.
The MSO welcomes your support at any level. Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible, and supporters are recognised as follows:
$500+ (Overture)
$1,000+ (Player)
$2,500+ (Associate)
$5,000+ (Principal)
$10,000+ (Maestro)
$20,000+ (Impresario)
$50,000+ (Virtuoso)
$100,000+ (Platinum)
PRINCIPAL PARTNER
Thank you to our Partners
PREMIER PARTNER
MAJOR PARTNERS
VENUE PARTNER
INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM PARTNER
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
EDUCATION PARTNERS
ORCHESTRAL TRAINING PARTNER
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Quest Southbank Ernst & Young
MEDIA AND BROADCAST PARTNERS
TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS
Flora & Frank Leith Trust, Sidney Myer MSO Trust Fund
