Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd

Established in 1906 to share the beauty of orchestral music with the people of Victoria, today the MSO is recognised as one of the country s largest employers in the performing arts and an internationallyrecognised ambassador for Australian arts. The MSO contributes to the social and intrinsic value of Victoria s cultural economy and takes a wholeofstate position that all Victorians, no matter where they live, have the right to participate in cultural experiences. In 2024 the MSO presented 174 performances to a live audience of over 300,000 people under the baton of our Chief Conductor, Jaime Martín. Across the year, the MSO showcased remarkable Australian composers and musicians, continued to engage in crosscultural collaborations, and international participation with tours to China, Singapore and Indonesia, which strengthened our global presence. Community engagement also expanded, with the successful launch of Jams in Schools, continued delivery of our regional touring program, and the commencement of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The commissioning of new orchestral works remained a cornerstone of the MSO s vision in 2024 and we proudly showcased 21 commissions by Australian composers. This year saw the world premier of compositions by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO (First Nations Creative Chair), Katy Abbott, Robert Cossom, Elena KatsChernin AO, Alex Turley, and the MSO s Cybec Young Composer in Residence, Naomi Dodd. Through our pipeline of support for emerging artists, including the MSO Academy and positions of Cybec Young Composer in Residence (Naomi Dodd) and Cybec Assistant Conductor (Leonard Weiss CF) we continue to nurture the next generation of Australian musicians and composers. A key focus in 2024 was our continuing commitment to First Nations artists and narratives. Through dedicated programming, commissions, and artistic positions, we are ensuring that First Nations voices are heard and celebrated on our stages. This year the MSO introduced a new position of Cybec First Nations Composer in Residence to the MSO s 2025 Artistic Family. Created to enhance First Nations representation in orchestral music, this inaugural role was awarded to composer and sound designer James Henry, offering opportunities for mentorship and commissioned work, the first of which will premiere in 2025. During NAIDOC Week 2024, one of Australia s most loved singersongwriters, Dan Sultan, joined the MSO to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his third studio album, Blackbird. With orchestral arrangements from Alex Turley and featuring original, MSOcommissioned artwork from Sultan s longtime friend, Boonwurrung, Wemba Wemba and Trawlwoolway artist, Jarra Karalinar Steel, the performance was conducted by Noongar man Aaron Wyatt. The MSO s education and outreach program delivered 100 education workshops reaching 16,365 students and teachers, 11 school performances attracting 12,396 schoolaged students and teachers.