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 in Residence Benjamin Northey, Cybec Assistant Conductor Leonard Weiss, 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, Artist in Residence, Learning & Engagement Karen Kyriakou, Artist in Association Christian Li, and Artistic Ambassadors, Tan Dun, Lu Siqing and Xian Zhang (East meets West).
The MSO regularly presents exceptional artists from across the globe including the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, French conductor Chloé van Soeterstède, German Korean violinist Clara-Jumi Kang, American superstar violinist Esther Yoo, American mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davies, German conductor Anja Bihlmaier and chorus director Stephen Layton, Norwegian star trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth, Berlin Philharmonic’s Principal Trombone, Jonathon Ramsay, soprano Siobhan Stagg and UK baritone, Roderick Williams.
The MSO reaches beyond the customary classical audience. Recent contemporary collaborations include performances with Kate Ceberano, Birds of Tokyo, Electric Fields, Dan Sultan and Ngaiire, the world premiere concert screening of The Man from Snowy River and Australian premieres of Frozen and The Lion King in concert.
The first Australian orchestra to perform overseas (1965) and the first to debut at Carnegie Hall (1970), the MSO has a proud history of international touring and has established firm roots through regular engagement in China, Indonesia and Singapore, with new agreements forged with West Java Province and the Sichuan Orchestra adding to ongoing relationships with Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing. The MSO also expanded its reach in the UK signing new partnership agreements with the London Symphony Orchestra, LSO Live, and The Royal Academy of Music.
Since its beginnings in 1906, the MSO has campaigned for the rights of all people to gain access to music. Presenting carefully curated learning programs, a regional touring schedule, accessible concerts and free community events, the MSO provides opportunities for music lovers to be involved with the Orchestra, no matter their age or location.
