Since 2015, the MSO has enjoyed a strong relationship with the Government of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Region (extended for a third three-year period to 2024) incorporates a multi-year program of performances, annual youth music camps, knowledge exchange and touring.

In May 2023, a delegation of MSO musicians and management staff travelled to Yogyakarta, and for the first time, to Bandung in West Java, for 12 days of cross-cultural engagement, delivering the annual MSO Youth Music Camp and Arts Management Workshops in both locations. While in Bandung, a partnership proposal plan between the MSO and the West Java Province was signed, supporting the Implementation program of the cooperation between West Java and the Victorian Government. Demonstrating an outcome of the relationship between the two governments, Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Ms Penny Williams PSM and His Excellency Ridwan Kamil, Governor of the West Java Province attended and witnessed the signing ceremony. Read more about it here.

The MSO’s relationship with the Government of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, His Highness Prince Notonegoro and his team remained strong across 2022 with a new memorandum of understanding being signed with the Vice Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region, Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya Paku Alam X, to extend the cross-cultural partnership for another three years. In October 2022, a delegation of MSO musicians and management travelled to Yogyakarta to work with students from across Indonesia in a series of instrumental and arts management workshops.

Throughout 2020 and 2021, the MSO’s Managing Director, Sophie Galaise, assisted His Highness Prince Notonegoro and his team in the creation of the Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra which had their debut in June 2021. The MSO congratulates His Excellency Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and the Prince for their great vision, innovation, and tremendous courage to create a new orchestra so that the world may hear Yogyakarta’s rich musical tradition and sounds in a new voice on the orchestral stage.

In August 2019, and as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Australia now ASEAN celebration, the MSO delivered its fourth annual Youth Music Camp in Yogyakarta, leading to a performance featuring participants and MSO musicians. MSO staff also presented cultural management workshops in Jakarta and Yogyakarta for arts administrators, supporting a vision for cultural exchange, knowledge sharing and collaboration.

In October 2019, we were honoured to welcome His Excellency Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X of Yogyakarta and his delegation to the MSO. Read more about it here.

In 2017, at the invitation of His Majesty Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the MSO was the first Western orchestra to perform outdoors at the UNESCO World Heritage Prambanan Temple Site. We were also the first professional orchestra to perform Beethoven’s Symphony No.2 in the region and were joined at that performance by the daughter of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of Yogyakarta, Princess Mangkubumi who sits on the MSO Advisory Council.

The MSO’s international engagement is made possible thanks to support from the Gandel Foundation through the MSO’s Now and Forever Future Fund.