Profiling the Robert Salzer Foundation

The Robert Salzer Foundation: A 10-year partnership that continues Robert Salzer’s legacy of support for the arts.

For 10 years, the Robert Salzer Foundation has been a generous and steadfast supporter of the MSO. Founded on a shared belief in the value of music to society, with the support of the Foundation, the MSO has created a decade of meaningful cultural experiences for our audiences, delivered to the highest possible standard.

In 2014, the Robert Salzer Foundation first supported the MSO’s UPBEAT program; a ‘mini-subscription’ package for full-time secondary and tertiary students designed to inspire young people with a lifelong love of orchestral music. From 2016, the Foundation has supported MSO’s regional touring program, successfully increasing access to world-class orchestral music experiences and educational opportunities for communities across regional Victoria, and contributing significantly to the artistic and cultural vibrancy of the regions. Especially during the COVID-19 years, the Foundation was a constant and flexible supporter as the Orchestra continued to connect with regional communities despite lockdowns and travel restrictions.

The Robert Salzer Foundation carries on the commitment to the arts which was such a feature of Robert’s – and his wife Betty’s - life work.​ As a key contributor to Australia’s cultural life, and with the generous support of the Foundation, the MSO works to enrich as many people’s lives as possible through meaningful musical encounters.

Profiling the Freemasons Foundation Victoria

The Freemasons Foundation Victoria: Celebrating a shared vision for strong and connected regional communities.

A shared commitment to building strong and vibrant communities, wherever they are, brings the Freemasons Foundation Victoria mission together with the MSO. Since 2019, a trusting and successful partnership has been built between the MSO and the Freemasons Foundation that enables access for regional Victorians to the same levels of orchestral artistic excellence as their Melbourne counterparts.

Through their Community Grants Program, the Freemasons Foundation Victoria invests in programs and initiatives that create stronger and healthier communities. Thanks to consecutive grants received through this program, the MSO’s Regional Touring Strategy has grown to encompass a whole-of-community approach that allows residents to partake in the excitement and emotional stimulation derived from the orchestral artform and enables local access to some of the country’s most esteemed professional musicians.

The strong support of the Freemasons Foundation Victoria over six years has meant that the Orchestra can travel to approximately eight regional and rural locations per year to achieve this mission.

During the period of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, an additional grant from the Foundation enabled the Orchestra to visit the regional community of Mallacoota - for the first time. The MSO remains grateful for the trust and support of the Freemasons Foundation Victoria during this time, which enabled it to reach isolated Victorians with uplifting musical experiences.

Read more about the Foundation’s extraordinary work across Victoria here.