WET weather did not deter an enthusiastic audience of around 160, including many children, who turned up to experience a free concert by the talented Symphonic Wind Orchestra (SWO) last Wednesday at Gloucester High School.
The SWO is part of the Sydney Youth Orchestra (SYO) Symphonic Orchestral Program.
Established in 1973 by renowned conductor and educator Peter Seymour, the SYO is a not-for-profit charity which provides opportunities for youth to play and perform orchestral music.
It also serves as an important stepping stone for young musicians to move into a career in the creative arts.
This ‘Meet the Orchestra’ event was an entertaining, interactive, fun filled and educational look at the different instruments that make up the beautiful tone colours heard in an ensemble.
Being a ‘wind orchestra’, there were no string instruments that would usually be found in a symphony orchestra, but the audience enjoyed hearing the woodwind, brass and percussion families demonstrated by these talented young musicians.
The SWO were on route to Armidale for their annual camp and, for the second year running, made a stop in Gloucester to provide a free concert.
“Students from our local schools had the opportunity to stand amongst the musicians as they performed the finale, ‘Star Wars’, and to play their own instruments with the SYO members following the concert,” said Gloucester Public School music teacher Sarah Soupidis.
“There were smiles all around from Gloucester’s budding musicians.”
The next free SYO concert will be in the Gloucester High School Hall in April 2026 (date TBA).
By John WATTS
