Principal conductor Luke Spicer | ||
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Similar Anne Boyd, Sydney Youth Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra Profiles | ||
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 v
enue is the 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 nine students. It receives funding from the University of Sydney Union as well as donations from the public. The current President is James Tanna, and Vice-President is Jack Stephens.
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.
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.
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 and Richard Strauss' Horn Concerto No. 1 with Julian Leslie.
Previous conductors include Simon Kenway, Nicholas Routley, Simon Thew, Ben Macpherson OAM, Romano Crevici, Phillip Chu, Gareth Tilley, Colin Piper and George Ellis.