George Michael: Freedom! by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

THE MEASURE OF

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WELCOME In recent years we have lost many contemporary music icons including Olivia Newton-John, Tina Turner and Burt Bacharach. Shockingly on Christmas Day 2016 one of those musical heroes was George Michael. From the CHOOSE LIFE logo t-shirts that accompanied the 80s explosion of Wham! to the soulful ballads that heralded the solo career of George Michael, his melodies and poetic lyrics have been part of the soundtrack to our lives. In 2017, we created a show to pay tribute to the man and his artistry. Tonight, we celebrate George Michael again with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, under the baton of Conductor Ben Northey and arrangements by Nicholas Buc. Our remarkable band is led by Musical Director Dorian West guiding a veritable melange of Australia’s contemporary artists. Sit back, or stand and dance, as we offer you a musical tribute to the talent of this extraordinary songwriter, producer, singer, gay artist, activist, philanthropist, pop icon and above all, humble man.

George Michael: Freedom! forms part of the MSO Icon Series presented by Ryman Healthcare. Tonight’s performance is dedicated to the memory of Paul Gray and Natasha Stuart who were part of the original team in 2017. Sadly, no longer with us, but never forgotten. Thank you all for joining us to celebrate life and Freedom!

Mark Sutcliffe Executive Producer MSO Presents

Amanda Pelman Creative Director

GEORGE MICHAEL: FREEDOM! MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BENJAMIN NORTHEY conductor AMANDA PELMAN creative director CAMERON MITCHELL choreographer COURTNEY ACT NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE DAVID CAMPBELL EMMA DONOVAN BRENDAN MACLEAN ADAM THOMPSON JADE MACRAE GARY PINTO CARMEN SMITH DORIAN WEST musical director/piano GRANT WINDSOR keys MARCEL YAMMOUNI guitar BLAKELY McLEAN DAVIES bass MARCUS RYAN drums

Duration: 2 hours and 30 mins, including 20 min interval.

This concert may be recorded for future broadcast on MSO.LIVE.

George Michael: Freedom! is proudly presented by MSO Premier Partner Ryman Healthcare. 4

PRODUCTION CREDITS MSO PRESENTS Executive Producer Mark Sutcliffe Producer Erika Noguchi Artist Liaison Stephen McAllan Head of Production & Media Steele Foster Production Manager Brenton Burley Production Coordinators Daniel Boaden Renn Picard

Marketing Services Anthem. Partner, Marketing and Operations Kate Macdonald Partner, Creative and Innovation Jarrod Carland Account Director Victoria Childs Senior Account Manager Mitch McCafferty Publicity Kelly Black, Joanna White Black & White Publicity With thanks to: Sony Music Australia – Vanessa Picken, Shane Choi, Sophie McArthur, Adam Stanley, Grant Donges

GEORGE MICHAEL: FREEDOM! Creative Director Amanda Pelman Musical Director Dorian West Choreographer Cameron Mitchell Lighting Designer Alex Saad Audio Engineer Brett Galvin, Arts Centre Melbourne Monitor Engineer Norwest Video Services CVP – Events, Film & TV Hair & Make Up Artists Otis Fantauzzo Jordan Hallewell

Joseph Hanrahan, Sophie McGill, Mandy Perry, Wendy Richards, Jeremy Sharp, Jill Shelton, Melissa Thompson

ACT 1 Through David Campbell

Waiting for that Day Full Cast

Father Figure Adam Thompson

Everything She Wants Adam Thompson

Amazing Natalie Bassingthwaighte

Spinning the Wheel Adam Thompson, Brendan Maclean

Different Corner David Campbell, Natalie Bassingthwaighte

Monkey Brendan Maclean

Cowboys and Angels Courtney Act

One More Try Emma Donovan, David Campbell, Gary Pinto

Flawless (Go to the City) Brendan Maclean

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me Full Cast

I Knew You Were Waiting David Campbell, Emma Donovan

INTERVAL

All songs by George Michael unless noted otherwise. Orchestral arrangements by Nicholas Buc. Yogerture medley arranged by Nicholas Buc Amazing by George Michael & Jon Douglas Flawless (Go to the City) by George Michael, Paul Alexander, Nashom Wooden Gary Turnier, Eric Matthew, Olivier Stumm I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) by Simon Climie & Dennis Morgan Waiting for that Day by George Michael, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards Spinning the Wheel by George Michael & Jon Douglas Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me Elton John & Bernie Taupin Star People ’97 by George Michael & The Gap As by Stevie Wonder Careless Whisper by George Michael & Andrew Ridgeley Fast Love by George Michael & Patrice Rushen Look at Your Hands by George Michael & David Austin Wham Rap! and other Wham songs by George Michael & Andrew Ridgeley 6

ACT 2 Praying for Time David Campbell

Older Brendan Maclean

Fantasy Courtney Act

Look at Your Hands Adam Thompson

Star People ‘97 Natalie Bassingthwaighte

I Want Your Sex/Outside Courtney Act, Brendan Maclean

As Adam Thompson, Natalie Bassingthwaighte

Wham Rap! David Campbell, Brendan Maclean, Adam Thompson, Gary Pinto

Hard Day Adam Thompson, Carmen Smith

Too Funky Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Courtney Act, Emma Donovan, Jade Macrae, Carmen Smith

Something to Save Jade Macrae

Freedom! Full Cast

Careless Whisper David Campbell Fastlove Emma Donovan

A TRIBUTE: THE GEORGE MICHAEL LEGACY

GEORGE MICHAEL

25 JUNE 1963 – 25 DECEMBER 2016 Photo credit: MICHAEL PUTLAND – GETTY IMAGES

eorge Michael was a trailblazer in the true sense of the word. From a pop sensation in the duo Wham! to a singular artist, the music legend was a consummate songwriter, musician and performer. Known for hit songs such as Careless Whisper, Freedom 90, Faith and the perennial favourite Last Christmas, George Michael sold more than 100 million albums in the span of his career. His evolution from buoyant 80s tunes to reflective adult pop brought newfound maturity and lyrical prowess. With it came the curiosity and experimentation to embrace a variety of styles that gave the incendiary I Want Your Sex, Kissing a Fool, Father Figure and Faith a jazzy conviction and the sounds of R&B and funk. His 1987 debut solo album, the superbly crafted Faith, proved a milestone. It remains innovative and timeless, a significant contribution to his enduring musical legacy. During the late 1980s George Michael became increasingly interested in social issues and world affairs. Not long after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and war drums were being sounded, the songwriter released the single Praying For Time, from his 1990 turning-point solo album Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1. It was released as a new decade dawned and it revealed Michael’s versatility and depth as a songwriter. With the war in Iraq (Desert Storm) looming, Praying For Time was serious, moody and timely. George Michael’s soulful, sensual voice — the key to much of his success — was placed in an instrumentally minimalist setting to enrich the vocals and give words their due weight. With the teen heart-throb years well behind him, Michael’s command as a songwriter, instrumentalist (he played keyboard), producer and collaborator came blazingly to the fore. Commentators and scholars described him as part of the ‘blue-eyed soul approach’ to

music-making, with Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cook and Smokey Robinson chief among his influences. His introspection and seductive upbeat rhythms and textures, along with his perfectionism and ability to change and grow as an artist, have influenced numerous performers and musicians throughout the world, including Justin Timberlake, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Miguel, Mariah Carey and all the artists gathered for these Sydney Symphony Orchestra tribute concerts. His artistic legacy is entwined with his mentoring and generosity. The 1996 release of Older was smooth, sophisticated pop. It included the haunting song Jesus to a Child, a tribute to his love Anselmo Feleppa, who had died in 1991 from an AIDS-related illness. Although Michael did not confirm his being gay until 1998, he would later dedicate the song to Anselmo when introducing it in concert. The legacy of the pop icon extends far beyond his music through his philanthropy and, ultimately, through his forthright and unapologetic views about his gay sexuality. Music journalist Martin Aston, the author of Breaking Down The Walls of Heartbreak: How Music Came Out, said George was arguably ‘the first gay pop star of the modern era’ who, once he was forced out of the closet, did so with ‘all guns blazing’. George Michael’s liberation came quickly after his much-publicised arrest in 1998 for lewd conduct in a public toilet in Los

Angeles. Whatever initial embarrassment it may have caused, the performer took ownership of the headline-making incident by gleefully turning the tables on authority and revealing himself as a proud gay man. His single and video Outside resorted to humour rather than anger to mock the police officers who arrested and laid charges against him. The fans stayed loyal. His openness and refusal to be cowered won him new-found respect in the LGBTQ community and among peers and emerging artists who sought positive, unabashed role models. Aston said that George Michael, by being true to himself and decrying homophobic bigots, would exert a lasting influence in music circles. ‘He was an important role model and helped pave the way for openly gay contemporary artists such as Adam Lambert and Sam Smith… Although Michael was far from the first musician to come out as openly gay, his status as a mainstream pop icon and his huge female fan base made him unique,’ wrote Aston. ‘For somebody of that ilk to not worry about their career or their image and be that open about it was incredibly positive. There was no sense of shame. The regret was that he hadn’t come out sooner.’ The GRAMMY Award-winning Sam Smith acknowledged his debt to George Michael, describing him as ‘one of the most magical, talented, bravest and important figures in music and life as I know it’. Michael’s last few albums, including the covers-only Songs from the Last Century

(1999), Patience (2004) and the live orchestral Symphonica (2014), showcase a range of styles, the introspective and moody as well as the big, bold and rousingly defiant, notably the anti-war song Shoot the Dog. Through it all George Michael stayed true to his humanitarian roots, giving much to charity in his own noble and private way. From the time he performed as part of the musical charity Band Aid in 1984, George Michael recognised the extent to which artists and musicians could make a difference in the world. He became a staunch philanthropist and supporter of causes that ranged from HIV/AIDS research to protecting vulnerable children. In 1991 he donated the proceeds from his duet with Elton John, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, to the Terrence Higgins Trust, an HIV advocacy organisation. When Michael died, the Trust issued a statement which said: ‘His donations contributed to a vision of a world where people living with HIV live healthy lives free from prejudice and discrimination. Thanks to George’s legacy, we are a step closer to that world...’ In November 2023 George Michael was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. BRYCE HALLETT © 2017 Bryce Hallett is a former arts editor and writer at The Sydney Morning Herald. He wrote the rock drama Rolling Thunder Vietnam.

About Long Time Living Here In all the world, only Australia can lay claim to the longest continuing cultures and we celebrate this more today than in any other time since our shared history began. We live each day drawing energy from a land which has been nurtured by the traditional owners for more than 2000 generations. When we acknowledge country we pay respect to the land and to the people in equal measure.

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.

As a composer I have specialised in coupling the beauty and diversity of our Indigenous languages with the power and intensity of classical music. In order to compose the music for this Acknowledgement of Country Project I have had the great privilege of working with no fewer than eleven ancient languages from the state of Victoria, including the language of my late Grandmother, Yorta Yorta woman Frances McGee. I pay my deepest respects to the elders and ancestors who are represented in these songs of acknowledgement and to the language custodians who have shared their knowledge and expertise in providing each text.

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. Australian National Commission for UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientiﬁc and Cultural Organization

I am so proud of the MSO for initiating this landmark project and grateful that they afforded me the opportunity to make this contribution to the ongoing quest of understanding our belonging in this land. — Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO

MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is a leading cultural figure in the Australian arts landscape, bringing the best in orchestral music and passionate performance to a diverse audience across Victoria, the nation and around the world.

The MSO is a vital presence, both onstage and in the community, in cultivating classical music in Australia. The nation’s first professional orchestra, the MSO has been the sound of the city of Melbourne since 1906. The MSO regularly attracts great artists from around the globe including Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lang Lang, Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson, while bringing Melbourne’s finest musicians to the world through tours to China, Europe and the United States.

Each year the MSO engages with more than 5 million people through live concerts, TV, radio and online broadcasts, international tours, recordings and education programs.

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.

BENJAMIN NORTHEY conductor

and the New Zealand Symphony, Auckland Philharmonia and Christchurch Symphony Orchestras.

Australian conductor Benjamin Northey is the Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Principal Conductor in Residence of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Northey studied conducting with John Hopkins at the University of Melbourne and Jorma Panula at the Stockholm Royal College of Music.

Northey also appears regularly as a guest conductor with all major Australian symphony orchestras, Opera Australia (Turandot, L’elisir d’amore, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Carmen), New Zealand Opera (Sweeney Todd ) and State Opera South Australia (La sonnambula, L’elisir d’amore, Les contes d’Hoffmann). His international appearances include concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Malaysian Philharmonic

With a progressive and diverse approach to repertoire, he has collaborated with a broad range of artists including Maxim Vengerov, Julian Rachlin, Karen Gomyo, Piers Lane and many others. In 2023, he conducts the Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Tasmanian and Christchurch Symphony Orchestras and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

AMANDA PELMAN creative director

Together with Thorpe and Michael Chugg, Amanda co-produced the successful concert series Long Way to the Top (2002–2004 & 2012).

As Sir Cameron Macintosh described her, ‘a rock n’ roll chick from way back’, Amanda Pelman has signed artists (Kylie Minogue), managed artists into successful international careers (Indecent Obsession) and championed the careers of many others through her A&R roles in Australia and the UK.

Her roles in casting and as creative director have covered productions such as Priscilla Queen of the Desert, RENT, Oliver, Jolson, Fame and Fiddler on the Roof.

Recalled as the ‘nasty judge’ on 7 Network’s It Takes Two series, her on-camera appearances didn’t start there, but in the early 80s as a dancer on ABC’s Countdown, prompted by her lifelong friend Molly Meldrum.

While living in Upstate New York, 2018–2020 Amanda worked alongside Michael Lang on the Woodstock 50 Festival and branding. She now resides in Paris living a creative life – writing, painting and always looking forward.

Amanda is the proud recipient of two ARIA Awards: for production on the live event Sound Relief and as Executive Producer of Tangier, the posthumous release for Billy Thorpe in 2011.

CAMERON MITCHELL choreographer Cameron Mitchell has been working in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. Starting his career in musical theatre, he soon became one of Australia’s most sought-after choreographers. He choreographed for the Logie and Aria award winning children’s group Hi-5, and worked with Caroline O’Connor on her shows From Stage to Screen and The Showgirl Within. His work featured regularly in So You Think You Can Dance, as well as over three seasons of Dancing with The Stars. He also choreographed sequences on the feature film Peter Rabbit 2. Musical Theatre credits include Heathers the musical, High Society, The Fantasticks, Mack & Mabel, Big Fish, Brigadoon, The Rover, The View Upstairs, Calamity Jane, High Fidelity, Gypsy, Cry-Baby, Spamalot, and Friends the Musical Parody. Cameron made his directorial debut for the critically acclaimed Australian premiere of Catch Me If You Can. Following this, he directed the QPAC season of Singing in The Rain, To Barbra with Love for the MSO, and most recently Menopause the Musical. For his directing work on Nice Work If You Can Get It, Cameron won Best Director & Best Choreographer of a Musical for the Sydney Theatre Awards.

MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS

Hopelessly DEVOTED A CELEBRATION OF

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN WITH THE

MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR

JESSICA GETHIN AND HOST

TOTTIE GOLDSMITH

DAVID CAMPBELL

7–9 MARCH 2024

JESS HITCHCOCK

GEORGINA HOPSON

CHRISTIE WHELAN BROWNE

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE, HAMER HALL

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COURTNEY ACT Boy, Girl. Artist, Advocate. Courtney Act is more than just the sum of her parts. She is a multifaceted artist and queer community advocate who embodies the zeitgeist of an era. From her beginnings in the premiere season of Australian Idol to winner of Celebrity Big Brother UK , Courtney has become one of Australia’s most loved media personalities as series host of ABC’s One Plus One, Eurovision Australia Decides Spokesperson, and co-host of the Opening Ceremony for Sydney World Pride. Adding to her list of achievements, Courtney made her stage debut with the Sydney Theatre Company in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, and has gone on to become best-selling author with the release of Caught In The Act by Shane Jenek. This year, Madame Tussards Sydney revealed the Courtney Act wax figure as the centerpiece of their “Pride Zone”, immortalising her as one of Australia’s most influential cultural icons.

NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE Natalie is one of Australia’s most versatile entertainers, achieving success as an actress, musician, presenter, and author. Natalie has starred in hugely successful productions over her impressive career, including Jagged Little Pill, Chess and Chicago. Her stage career started with Grease, Rent, and Footloose, and she later returned to her theatrical roots for the play Love, Loss and What I Wore and Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Funny Girl in Concert. Natalie’s music career has seen her reach Number One on the ARIA Charts, with her solo album 1000 STARS, debuting at number one. She has enjoyed international success as frontwoman of The Rogue Traders, achieving multi-platinum sales, two APRA nominations, an MTV award win, and seven ARIA nominations. Recent acting credits include Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS alongside Tom Hanks, Network Ten’s The Wrong Girl Season 2, reprising her role as ‘Izzy Hoyland’ Neighbours, and Network Ten’s biopic Brock. Other credits Underbelly: The Golden Mile, The Mystery of Natalie Wood, Counterstrike and The Lost World.

You Can Dance. In early 2017, she was one of the finalists in Network Ten’s I’m A Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here. Natalie has received Logie nominations for Most Popular Actress and Most Popular Presenter, and two Gold Logie nominations.

As a presenter, Natalie has hosted the ABC’s Space22, Network Ten’s Changing Rooms and was a judge and mentor in the popular Channel Seven series The X Factor Australia and X Factor New Zealand. She co-hosted the 2010 ARIA AWARDS and won a Logie Award for her three-year stint as host on So You Think

DAVID CAMPBELL David Campbell OAM is one of Australia’s most popular and versatile entertainers. A proven television and radio host, he also headlines theatre, cabaret and concert performances, as well as being an ARIA winning, Helpmann Award winning, multi-platinum recording artist and author. David is the popular co-host of the national Today Extra show for the Nine Network, as well as the beloved annual Christmas Eve broadcast of Carols by Candlelight. For radio, David presents his own top rating, national weekend afternoon radio show on Smooth FM and in print, David is a regular featured columnist in Stellar, News Corp’s popular Sunday magazine. David is one of our leading musical theatre stars and has achieved similar success on the international stage, most notably captivating New York with his award-winning cabaret show. His production credits include North By Northwest, Dream Lover — The Bobby Darin Musical, Les Misérables, Company, Shout!, Assassins and more. Part of the original cast of George Michael: Praying for Time, performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House in 2017, he is excited to be back on stage celebrating this iconic performer.

EMMA DONOVAN Highly celebrated, ARIA-nominated, awardwinning Indigenous singer and songwriter Emma Donovan has been touring the country for over 20 years, performing soulful songs and sharing powerful stories with audiences around the globe. Emma first appeared on the stage with her renowned family band The Donovans, performing church song renditions with her mother Agnes, her five uncles and maternal grandparents Micko and Aileen. Emma is now best known for her work with greatly admired Melbourne rhythm combo The Putbacks and the extraordinary Black Arm Band project. Emma has toured and recorded with the best in the Australian music scene including Paul Kelly, The Teskey Brothers, Yothu Yindi, Paul Grabowsky, Jen Cloher, Spinifex Gum and the late Uncle Archie Roach and Aunty Ruby Hunter. On her mother’s side, Emma is part of the famed Donovan family of singers of the Gumbaynggirr people, of what is now known as Northern New South Whales. On her father’s side, Emma is of the Yamatji people of what is now known as Western Australia. Emma regularly performs songs in Gumbaynggirr and Noongar traditional languages, and shares stories to provide her audiences with an understanding of Country and community.

BRENDAN MACLEAN Crowned Australia’s Prince of Indie Pop by Time Out Magazine, Brendan first made a mark when his break-up anthem Stupid broke through to an international audience, launched from his bedroom in the Inner West of Sydney. Touring his debut album funbang1 (2016), Maclean quickly became a crowd favourite of the global fringe festival circuit for his theatrical live vocals and mercurian showmanship. A versatile talent between studio and the stage, Brendan received an ARIA nomination for his work with Marcia Hines in the original cast of the hit show Velvet. More recently Maclean starred in Craig Illot’s first French cabaret, L’hotel at The Sydney Opera House and 2022 saw Maclean cast in the titular roles of the national premiere of Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical, The Herald branding his first foray into musical theatre, “a revelation.”

ADAM THOMPSON Adam Thompson is an Australian singer/ songwriter, entertainer, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Widely acknowledged as one of the country’s greatest entertainers, he is best known as the iconic front man of Australian rock band Chocolate Starfish, whose selftitled debut album went platinum and won an Australian Music Award after spawning hits Mountain and their cover of Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain. With over 35 years in the entertainment industry under his belt, Adam is currently enjoying the most successful period of his career. He has firmly established himself as a sought-after solo performer with his Bohemian Rhapsody Concert, selling out theatres across Australia and dazzling audiences with his celebration of his music hero, Freddie Mercury, and Queen. Celebrations continue for Adam with the 30th anniversary of Chocolate Starfish touring the country in 2024, fresh off the band’s exhilarating tour of their Classic Album Series hit, Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell. Renowned for his powerful performances and electric stage presence, Adam continually lives up to his reputation as the ‘consummate entertainer’, captivating all with his boundless energy and undeniable desire to connect with his audiences.

JADE MACRAE With a career spanning 25 years, and a rich musical history steeped in R&B and Jazz, multiple ARIA award nominee and APRA award winner Jade MacRae remains one of Australia’s most beloved live performers and studio musicians. With her fourth full length album due for release early 2024, Jade continues to tour as a vocalist in the band of blues guitar heavyweight Joe Bonamassa, and has become an increasingly popular feature of his live show, recently gracing the stages of the Royal Albert Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre and The Hollywood Bowl. Joe describes Jade as;

“one of the most naturally gifted musicians I have ever encountered. Jade is what you would call a singer’s singer and musician’s musician. It is rare to see the combination of soulfulness and technical dexterity meet in such a great way.” Jade’s flair for live performance, skill for arrangement, and dynamic delivery have afforded her the opportunity to share the stage and studio with many iconic artists over the years such as George Benson, Sam Moore, Dave Stewart (Eurhythmics), Liam Gallagher, Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel, Renee Geyer and Neil Finn, as well as opening for James Brown, John Legend, Nelly and Ray Charles.

GARY PINTO Gary Pinto is one of the most loved and sought out vocalists in the Australian Music Industry. He’s humble, connected, and hard working. He signed to Sony Music and became a charttopping member of boy band ‘CDB’ who are widely regarded as pioneers of RnB music in Australia. As an Aria Award winning, multiplatinum selling recording artist, Gary has received accolades from Music Legends Stevie Wonder (who accompanied Gary at Stevie’s daughter’s 16th birthday!) and Smokey Robinson. He is considered one of the greatest Soul and R&B Singers that Australia has produced. Gary is a vocal coach on The Voice & The Masked Singer, and Casting Producer on The Voice & Australian Idol. Gary returned to the spotlight with a brand-new album, Sam Cooke The Music, released through Sony Music in 2022. The album (produced by world renowned Justin Stanley) is Gary’s unique tribute to an American icon, the ‘King of Soul’, and features new recordings of the music Sam Cooke made timeless like Wonderful World, Bring It On Home, A Change Is Gonna Come, Unchained Melody, and features duets with Aussie legends, Jimmy Barnes and Guy Sebastian. Gary continues to tour Australia with his stunning live Sam Cooke show, bringing to life this astonishing collection of songs delivered from an unforgettable voice.

CARMEN SMITH Carmen Smith, a dedicated singer-songwriter hailing from Sydney, Australia, with a career spanning over two decades. Her exceptional vocal prowess and musical talents have positioned her as a notable figure in the industry. Over 20 years, Carmen’s collaboration with esteemed Australian artist Guy Sebastian has taken them across stages both domestically and internationally. In addition to her partnership with Guy Sebastian, Carmen has graced performances with renowned artists like Jessica Mauboy and Stan Walker, contributing to memorable musical experiences. Her international collaborations include performances with artists such as Roachford and Rahsaan Patterson, further showcasing her versatility. Carmen’s impact extends beyond the stage. Her songwriting contributions have been showcased by artists, including Australian Idol contestants from 2005 to 2010. Her voice has been a sought-after asset, lending its charm to records featuring esteemed names like Guy Sebastian, RickiLee, Samantha Jade, Jessica Mauboy, Seth Haapu, Diesel and Thirsty Merc.

“With an enduring legacy of performances, collaborations, and contributions to the music landscape, Carmen Smith’s journey is a testament to her dedication and artistry.”

Presently, Carmen’s passion for nurturing talent shines as she holds the esteemed position of vocal coach on Australian Idol, sharing her expertise with aspiring artists.

BAND in Jazz Studies degrees, winning the Player Of The Year award in his final year in Jazz on Trumpet.

DORIAN WEST musical director/piano Dorian is a MultiInstrumentalist, having studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music receiving a Bachelor of Music and Associate Diploma

GRANT WINDSOR keys Grant Windsor is a musician of international reputation. Based in London for 11 years,

Having recorded and toured with a number of Australia’s most successful and iconic rock bands playing Bass, Guitar, Keys, Lap Steel, Trumpet and Flugelhorn, he is currently Musical Director for Tina Arena. Working extensively in Television as Musical Director current shows

he has worked alongside international artists such as Michael Bublé, Bilal, Kamaal Williams, Gregory Porter, Carol King, Sir Tim Rice, Pee Wee Ellis, Jose James and Basement Jaxx, and with Australian artists such as Pete Murray, Guy Sebastian, Christine Anu and Kate Ceberano Grant Windsor recorded on Blue Note records with

include The Masked Singer, Dancing With The Stars and Australian Idol, his previous MD credits include Australia’s Got Talent, The X-Factor and Hey Hey It’s Saturday. As well as Musical Director roles Dorian has decades of credits as a Record Producer and Film Composer. He is thrilled to be representing one of his alltime idols, George Michael, for this special occasion!

Jose James in 2014 on No Beginning no end which received 2 downbeat awards. In 2001 Grant received the inaugural APRA Professional Development award for Jazz Composition. He is currently working at both the VCA and Monash universities and is an APRA-AMCOS Ambassador, with Australian singer-songwriter Shane Howard.

MARCEL YAMMOUNI guitar Marcel Yammouni is a highly versatile musician celebrated for his exceptional talents as a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. His musical journey gained momentum as he transitioned to working behind the scenes as a professional guitarist, contributing to the magic of countless musical productions. Throughout his career,

Marcel has been the driving force behind the scenes, collaborating with a multitude of renowned artists, making their performances truly exceptional. Notable figures such as Vanessa Amorosi and Karise Eden have had the privilege of working alongside Marcel, a testament to his remarkable talents as a guitarist and multiinstrumentalist. Currently, Marcel is in the midst of several exciting musical endeavors. He’s embarked on a creative journey with his brother Joe, forming the dynamic duo known as The Moon Bros. Together, they are crafting a unique blend of music that showcases their exceptional

musical synergy. Simultaneously, Marcel is also carving a path for himself as a solo artist, where his individuality shines through, allowing him to explore and express his distinct musical vision. Marcel Yammouni’s musical odyssey, transitioning from the stage to behind the scenes, is a testament to his unwavering passion for music and his remarkable talent as a guitarist and multiinstrumentalist. With a rich history of collaborations and a promising future as both a solo artist and part of The Moon Bros, his contributions to the world of music are sure to leave a lasting legacy.

BLAKELY MCLEAN DAVIES bass Blakely McLean Davies is an improvising bassist and composer from Melbourne, Australia. He is a graduate of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (VCA), with his honours year focussing on composition for electro-

MARCUS RYAN drums Born into a musical family, Marcus began playing drums before he could walk and taking formal lessons at age 4. His uncle, a professional bass player would often

acoustic small ensemble. Blakely has studied with double bass luminaries Sam Anning, Tamara Murphy and Frank DiSario. In addition to this, he has studied composition and production under the renowned pianist/ composers Andrea Keller and Luke Howard. Blakely commenced his musical training playing violin and piano classically at age 3 and 5 respectively, achieving his AMusA on violin in 2016. He developed a love of the bass and contemporary music in high school, and following this bring Marcus along to gigs, providing opportunities for him to perform. Marcus began his professional music career at age of 18 after attending Box Hill College of Music, and during this year was awarded winner of Australia’s Best Up and Coming Drummer competition. Over the last 25 years, Marcus has expanded his musical vocabulary across many different styles in various live and recorded settings. During this time

was a finalist in the James Morrison Jazz Scholarship competition in 2019. In 2023, Blakely won the National Jazz Award at the Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival in 2023. Blakely is now an in demand session musician in a wide variety of styles, and his list of recording credits in both large and small ensemble settings continues to grow. His debut album as a bandleader Trio+ is set to release in early 2024. He has been a member of iconic Australian performer Tina Arena’s band since 2021. he has worked with artists such as Vika and Linda, Meg Mac, Vanessa Amorosi, Irwin Thomas (Jack Jones), Guy Sebastian and many others. Marcus currently works out of a home studio in Melbourne, recording for various artists and music projects. In 2022 Marcus travelled around the country completing a nine month tour with iconic Australian group Goanna and is currently performing shows with Australian singer/ songwriter Shane Howard.

MUSICIANS PERFORMING IN THIS CONCERT FIRST VIOLINS

VIOLAS

Peter Edwards

Katharine Brockman Molly Collier-O’Boyle* Karen Columbine* Andrew Crothers* Ceridwen Davies* Trevor Jones*

Assistant Principal Margaret Billson and the late Ted Billson#

Sarah Curro Dr Harry Imber#

Peter Fellin Lorraine Hook Anne-Marie Johnson David Horowicz#

Kirstin Kenny Clare Carrick* Andrea Keeble* Natalie Mavridis* Susannah Ng* SECOND VIOLINS

Matthew Tomkins Principal The Gross Foundation#

Mary Allison Isin Cakmakçioglu Isy Wasserman Patrick Wong Roger Young Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan#

Juliette Boirayon* Jos Jonker*

BASSOON

Jack Schiller Principal Dr Harry Imber# HORNS

Nicolas Fleury

Principal Margaret Jackson AC#

Rachel Shaw Gary McPherson#

TRUMPETS

Shane Hooton

Associate Principal Glenn Sedgwick and Dr Anita Willaton#

William Evans Rosie Turner

John and Diana Frew#

CELLOS

Rachael Tobin

TROMBONES

Associate Principal Anonymous#

Mark Davidson

Sarah Morse Caleb Wong Michelle Wood

Richard Shirley

Andrew and Judy Rogers# DOUBLE BASSES

Rohan Dasika

Acting Associate Principal

Emma Sullivan* FLUTE

Prudence Davis Principal Anonymous#

Principal

BASS TROMBONE

James Littlewood* Guest Principal

PERCUSSION

Hugh Tidy* Guest Principal

Greg Sully* HARP

Yinuo Mu Principal

SAXOPHONES

OBOE

Ann Blackburn

The Rosemary Norman Foundation# CLARINET

David Thomas Principal

Carlo Barbaro* Alto Saxophone

Stuart Byrne*

Baritone Saxophone

Tim Wilson*

Tenor Saxophone

Correct as of 27 November 2023 Learn more about our musicians on the MSO website. 30

* #

Guest musicians Position supported by

Get closer to the Music Become an MSO Patron Help us deliver an annual Season of musical magic, engage world-renowned artists, and nurture the future of Australian orchestral music by becoming an MSO Patron. Through an annual gift of $500 or more, you can join a group of like-minded musiclovers and enhance your MSO experience. Be the first to hear news from the MSO and enjoy exclusive MSO Patron activities, including behind-the-scenes access, special Patron pre-sales, and events with MSO musicians and guest artists. To find out more, please call MSO Philanthropy on (03) 8646 1551, or by scanning the QR code. Thank you for your support.

MSO SUPPORTERS MSO PATRON

Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

The late Mr Marc Besen AC and the late Mrs Eva Besen AO Gandel Foundation The Gross Foundation Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio Harold Mitchell Foundation Lady Potter AC CMRI Cybec Foundation The Pratt Foundation The Ullmer Family Foundation Anonymous ARTIST CHAIR BENEFACTORS

Cybec Assistant Conductor Chair Carlo Antonioli Cybec Foundation Concertmaster Dale Barltrop David Li AM and Angela Li Assistant Concertmaster Tair Khisambeev Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio Young Composer in Residence Melissa Douglas Cybec Foundation 2023 Composer in Residence Mary Finsterer Kim Williams AM PROGRAM BENEFACTORS

MSO Now & Forever Fund: International Engagement Gandel Foundation Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers Program Cybec Foundation Digital Transformation Perpetual Foundation – Alan (AGL) Shaw Endowment First Nations Emerging Artist Program The Ullmer Family Foundation

East meets West The Li Family Trust, National Foundation for AustraliaChina Relations MSO Live Online Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family Foundation MSO Education Anonymous MSO Academy Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio, Mary Armour, Christopher Robinson in memory of Joan P Robinson MSO For Schools Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family Foundation, Department of Education, Victoria, through the Strategic Partnerships Program Melbourne Music Summit Department of Education, Victoria, through the Strategic Partnerships Program MSO Regional Touring Angior Foundation, William & Lindsay Brodie Foundation Creative Victoria, Freemasons Foundation Victoria, Gwen and Edna Jones Foundation, Robert Salzer Foundation, The Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation, Uebergang Foundation The Pizzicato Effect Hume City Council’s Community Grants program, The Marian and E.H. Flack Trust, Flora & Frank Leith Charitable Trust, Australian Decorative And Fine Arts Society, Anonymous Sidney Myer Free Concerts Sidney Myer MSO Trust Fund and the University of Melbourne PLATINUM PATRONS $100,000+

The late Mr Marc Besen AC and the late Mrs Eva Besen AO Gandel Foundation The Gross Foundation Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio David Li AM and Angela Li

Lady Primrose Potter AC CMRI Anonymous (1) VIRTUOSO PATRONS $50,000+

Dr Harry Imber Margaret Jackson AC Packer Family Foundation The Ullmer Family Foundation Weis Family Anonymous (1) IMPRESARIO PATRONS $20,000+

The Aranday Foundation H Bentley The Hogan Family Foundation David Krasnostein AM and Pat Stragalinos Elizabeth Proust AO and Brian Lawrence Lady Marigold Southey AC Kim Williams AM The Yulgilbar Foundation Anonymous (2) MAESTRO PATRONS $10,000+

Christine and Mark Armour Margaret Billson and the late Ted Billson Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM Andrew Dudgeon AM Dr Mary-Jane H Gething AO David R Lloyd Peter Lovell Maestro Jaime Martin Rosemary and the late Douglas Meagher Farrel and Wendy Meltzer Nereda Hanlon and Michael Hanlon AM Paul Noonan Opalgate Foundation

Ian and Jeannie Paterson Christopher Robinson and the late Joan P Robinson Yashian Schauble Glenn Sedgwick The Sun Foundation Gai and David Taylor Athalie Williams and Tim Danielson Lyn Williams AM The Wingate Group Anonymous (3) PRINCIPAL PATRONS $5,000+

Mary Armour John and Lorraine Bates Barbara Bell in memory of Elsa Bell Bodhi Education Fund Julia and Jim Breen Lynne Burgess John Coppock OAM and Lyn Coppock Perri Cutten and Jo Daniell Ann Darby in memory of Leslie J. Darby Mary Davidson and the late Frederick Davidson AM The Dimmick Charitable Trust Tim and Lyn Edward Jaan Enden Equity Trustees Bill Fleming Sophie Galaise and Clarence Fraser Carrillo Gantner AC and Ziyin Gantner Dr Rhyl Wade and Dr Clem Gruen Cecilie Hall and the late Hon Michael Watt KC Louis J Hamon OAM Merv Keehn and Sue Harlow Dr Alastair Jackson AM Paul and Amy Jasper Dr John and Diana Frew Suzanne Kirkham The late Dr Elizabeth Lewis AM Lucas Family Foundation Dr Jane Mackenzie Gary McPherson

The Mercer Family Foundation Anne Neil in memory of Murray A. Neil Newton Family in memory of Rae Rothfield Ken Ong OAM David Ponsford Professor Sam Ricketson AM and Dr Rosemary Ayton Andrew and Judy Rogers The Rosemary Norman Foundation Guy Ross Helen Silver AO and Harrison Young Brian Snape AM Dr Michael Soon Mary Waldron Janet Whiting AM Dawna Wright and Peter Riedel Anonymous (1) ASSOCIATE PATRONS $2,500+

Carolyn Baker Marlyn Bancroft and Peter Bancroft OAM Sascha O Becker Janet H Bell Alan and Dr Jennifer Breschkin Patricia Brockman Nigel and Sheena Broughton Dr Lynda Campbell Oliver Carton Janet Chauvel and the late Dr Richard Chauvel Michael Davies and Drina Staples Leo de Lange Sophie E Dougall in memory of Libby Harold Barry Fradkin OAM and Dr Pam Fradkin Kim and Robert Gearon Gillian Hund OAM and Michael Hund R Goldberg and Family Goldschlager Family Charitable Foundation Colin Golvan AM KC and Dr Deborah Golvan

Jennifer Gorog C M Gray Marshall Grosby and Margie Bromilow Ian Kennedy AM & Dr Sandra Hacker AO Susan and Gary Hearst Dr Keith Higgins and Dr Jane Joshi Hartmut and Ruth Hofmann Doug Hooley Sandy Jenkins John Jones Mrs Qian Li Carolynne Marks Margaret and John Mason OAM H E McKenzie Dr Isabel McLean Christopher Menz and Peter Rose Ian Merrylees Dr Paul Nisselle AM Alan and Dorothy Pattison David and Nancy Price Ruth and Ralph Renard Peter and Carolyn Rendit James Ring Tom and Elizabeth Romanowski Christopher Menz and Peter Rose Liliane Rusek and Alexander Ushakoff Sage Foundation Jeffrey Sher KC and Diana Sher OAM Barry Spanger Steinicke Family Caroline Stuart Robert and Diana Wilson Shirley and Jeffrey Zajac Anonymous (3) PLAYER PATRONS $1,000+

Dr Sally Adams Margaret Astbury Robbie Barker Allen and Kathryn Bloom Michael Bowles and Alma Gill Joyce Bown Youth Music Foundation

Professor Ian Brighthope Miranda Brockman Drs John D L Brookes and Lucy V Hanlon Stuart Brown Jill and Christopher Buckley Dr Robin Burns and Dr Roger Douglas Ronald and Kate Burnstein Kaye Cleary Breen Creighton and Elsbeth Hadenfeldt Mrs Nola Daley Panch Das and Laurel Young-Das Caroline Davies Natasha Davies, for the Trikojus Education Fund Suzanne Dembo Rick and Sue Deering John and Anne Duncan Jane Edmanson OAM Diane Fisher Grant Fisher and Helen Bird Alex Forrest Applebay Pty Ltd David H and Esther Frenkiel OAM Mary Gaidzkar Simon Gaites Anthony Garvey and Estelle O’Callaghan 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 Dr Jennifer Henry Anthony and Karen Ho Lorraine Hook Jenny and Peter Hordern Katherine Horwood Jordan Janssen Shyama Jayaswal Basil and Rita Jenkins

Sue Johnston John Kaufman Angela Kayser Drs Bruce and Natalie Kellett Akira Kikkawa Dr Judith Kinnear Dr Richard Knafelc and Mr Grevis Beard Dr Jerry Koliha and Marlene Krelle Kerry Landman Bryan Lawrence Lesley McMullin Foundation Dr Jenny Lewis Phil Lewis Dr Kin Liu Andrew Lockwood Elizabeth H Loftus Chris and Anna Long John MacLeod Eleanor & Phillip Mancini Marshall Segan in memory of Berek Segan OBE and Marysia Segan Ian McDonald Wayne McDonald and Kay Schroer Lois McKay Dr Eric Meadows Professor Geoffrey Metz Sylvia Miller Ian Morrey and Geoffrey Minter Anthony and Anna Morton Dr Judith S Nimmo Laurence O’Keefe and Christopher James Susan Pelka Ian Penboss Peter Priest John Prokupets Professor Charles Qin OAM and Kate Ritchie Eli Raskin Jan and Keith Richards Roger Parker and Ruth Parker Dr Peter Rogers and Cathy Rogers OAM Dr Ronald and Elizabeth Rosanove Marie Rowland 34

Martin and Susan Shirley P Shore John E Smith Dr Peter Strickland Dr Joel Symons and Liora Symons Russell Taylor and Tara Obeyesekere Geoffrey Thomlinson Frank Tisher OAM and Dr Miriam Tisher Andrew and Penny Torok Christina Turner Leon and Sandra Velik The late Reverend Noel Whale Edward & Paddy White Nic and Ann Willcock Lorraine Woolley Dr Kelly and Dr Heathcote Wright Anonymous (15) OVERTURE PATRONS $500+

Margaret Abbey PSM Jane Allan and Mark Redmond Mario M Anders Jenny Anderson Dr Judith Armstrong and Robyn Dalziel Doris Au Lyn Bailey Peter Batterham Peter Berry and Amanda Quirk Dr William Birch AM Richard Bolitho Dr Robert Brook Elizabeth Brown Suzie Brown OAM and the late Harvey Brown John Brownbill Daniel Bushaway Jungpin Chen Linda Clifton Dr John Collins Judith Cowden in memory of violinist Margaret Cowden Gregory Crew Sue Cummings

Dr Oliver Daly and Matilda Daly Carol des Cognets Bruce Dudon Margaret Flatman Brian Florence Chris Freelance M C Friday David and Geraldine Glenny Louise Gourlay OAM Jan and the late Robert Green Christine Grenda Dawn Hales George Hampel AM KC and Felicity Hampel AM SC Geoff Hayes John Hill William Holder Rod Home Gillian Horwood Noelle Howell and Judy Clezy Geoff and Denise Illing Rob Jackson Wendy Johnson Irene Kearsey & Michael Ridley Peter Kempen AM John Keys Professor David Knowles and Dr Anne McLachlan Dr Kim Langfield-Smith Janet and Ross Lapworth Pauline and David Lawton Paschalina Leach Sharon Li Dr Susan Linton Kay Liu David Loggia Joy Manners Morris and Helen Margolis Sandra Masel in memory of Leigh Masel Janice Mayfield Gail McKay Shirley A McKenzie Joan Mullumby Marian Neumann

Ed Newbigin Valerie Newman Brendan O’Donnell Jillian Pappas Phil Parker The Hon Chris Pearce and Andrea Pearce Kerryn Pratchett William Ramirez Geoffrey Ravenscroft Dr Christopher Rees Professor John Rickard Peter Riedel Michael Riordan and Geoffrey Bush Fred and Patricia Russell Carolyn Sanders Dr Marc Saunders Julia Schlapp Hon Jim Short and Jan Rothwell Short Madeline Soloveychik Dr Alex Starr Dylan Stewart Tom Sykes Allison Taylor Reverend Angela Thomas Mely Tjandra Chris and Helen Trueman Rosemary Warnock Amanda Watson Michael Whishaw Deborah and Dr Kevin Whithear OAM Charles and Jill Wright Anonymous (11)

MSO GUARDIANS

Jenny Anderson David Angelovich G C Bawden and L de Kievit Lesley Bawden Joyce Bown Patricia A Breslin Mrs Jenny Bruckner and the late Mr John Bruckner The late Ken Bullen Peter A Caldwell Luci and Ron Chambers Beryl Dean Sandra Dent Alan Egan JP Gunta Eglite Marguerite Garnon-Williams Drs L C Gruen and R W Wade Louis J Hamon AOM Charles Hardman Carol Hay Jennifer Henry Graham Hogarth Rod Home Lyndon Horsburgh Tony Howe Lindsay and Michael Jacombs Laurence O’Keefe and Christopher James John Jones Sylvia Lavelle Pauline and David Lawton Cameron Mowat Ruth Muir David Orr Matthew O’Sullivan Rosia Pasteur Penny Rawlins Joan P Robinson Anne Roussac-Hoyne and Neil Roussac Michael Ryan and Wendy Mead Andrew Serpell and Anne Kieni Serpell Jennifer Shepherd

Suzette Sherazee Dr Gabriela and Dr George Stephenson Pamela Swansson Lillian Tarry Tam Vu and Dr Cherilyn Tillman Mr and Mrs R P Trebilcock Peter and Elisabeth Turner Michael Ulmer AO The Hon. Rosemary Varty Terry Wills Cooke OAM and the late Marian Wills Cooke Mark Young Anonymous (20) The MSO gratefully acknowledges the support of the following Estates: Norma Ruth Atwell Angela Beagley Christine Mary Bridgart The Cuming Bequest Margaret Davies Neilma Gantner The Hon Dr Alan Goldberg AO QC Enid Florence Hookey Gwen Hunt Family and Friends of James Jacoby Audrey Jenkins Joan Jones Pauline Marie Johnston C P Kemp 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

Albert Henry Ullin Jean Tweedie Herta and Fred B Vogel Dorothy Wood

Nereda Hanlon and Michael Hanlon AM

COMMISSIONING CIRCLE

Dr Harry Imber

Cecilie Hall and the Late Hon Michael Watt KC Tim and Lyn Edward Weis Family FIRST NATIONS CIRCLE

John and Lorraine Bates Colin Golvan AM KC and Dr Deborah Golvan Sascha O. Becker Maestro Jaime Martín Elizabeth Proust AO and Brian Lawrence Guy Ross Sage Foundation The Kate and Stephen Shelmerdine Family Foundation Michael Ullmer AO and Jenny Ullmer Jason Yeap OAM – Mering Management Corporation ADOPT A MUSICIAN

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

Cecilie Hall and the late Hon Michael Watt KC Saul Lewis

Abbey Edlin

David Horowicz

Anne-Marie Johnson Sarah Curro, Jack Schiller

Margaret Jackson AC Nicolas Fleury

Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio

Elina Fashki, Benjamin Hanlon, Tair Khisambeev, Christopher Moore

The late Dr Elizabeth A Lewis AM Anthony Chataway

David Li AM and Angela Li Dale Barltrop

Rosemary and the late Douglas Meagher Craig Hill

Gary McPherson Rachel Shaw

Anne Neil

Eleanor Mancini

Newton Family in memory of Rae Rothfield Cong Gu

The Rosemary Norman Foundation Ann Blackburn

Andrew and Judy Rogers Michelle Wood

Glenn Sedgwick

Tiffany Cheng, Shane Hooton

Dr Martin Tymms and Patricia Nilsson Natasha Thomas

Anonymous

Prudence Davis

HONORARY APPOINTMENTS

Life Members Mr Marc Besen AC John Gandel AC and Pauline Gandel AC Sir Elton John CBE Harold Mitchell AC Lady Potter AC CMRI Jeanne Pratt AC Michael Ullmer AO and Jenny Ullmer Anonymous MSO Ambassador Geoffrey Rush AC The MSO honours the memory of Life Members Mrs Eva Besen AO John Brockman OAM The Honourable Alan Goldberg AO QC Roger Riordan AM Ila Vanrenen

MSO ARTISTIC FAMILY

MSO BOARD

Jaime Martín

Chairman David Li AM

Chief Conductor

Xian Zhang

Principal Guest Conductor

Benjamin Northey

Principal Conductor in Residence

Carlo Antonioli

Co-Deputy Chairs Di Jameson OAM Helen Silver AO

Mary Finsterer

Managing Director Sophie Galaise Board Directors Shane Buggle Andrew Dudgeon AM Martin Foley Lorraine Hook Margaret Jackson AC Gary McPherson Farrel Meltzer Edgar Myer Glenn Sedgwick Mary Waldron

Melissa Douglas

Company Secretary Oliver Carton

Cybec Assistant Conductor

Sir Andrew Davis CBE Conductor Laureate

Hiroyuki Iwaki †

Conductor Laureate (1974–2006)

Warren Trevelyan-Jones MSO Chorus Director

Siobhan Stagg

Soloist in Residence

Gondwana Voices

Ensemble in Residence

Christian Li

Young Artist in Association Composer in Residence Cybec Young Composer in Residence

Christopher Moore

Creative Producer, MSO Chamber

Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO MSO First Nations Creative Chair

Dr Anita Collins

Creative Chair for Learning and Engagement

Artistic Ambassadors 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)

Thank you to our Partners

PRINCIPAL PARTNER

INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM PARTNER

VENUE PARTNER

PREMIER PARTNERS

ORCHESTRAL TRAINING PARTNER

GOVERNMENT PARTNERS

EDUCATION PARTNERS

MAJOR PARTNERS

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

Quest Southbank

Ernst & Young 38

Bows for Strings

MEDIA AND BROADCAST PARTNERS

TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS

Freemasons Foundation Victoria

The Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation, The Angior Family Foundation, The William and Lindsay Brodie Foundation, Flora & Frank Leith Trust, The Gwen and Edna Jones Foundation, The Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundation, Perpetual Foundation – Alan (AGL) Shaw Endowment, Sidney Myer MSO Trust Fund