The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has been a longstanding ArtPlay partner. Together, MSO and ArtPlay produce the annual MSO ArtPlay Ensemble project.
Children attend an initial workshop, from which a selected group of participants are invited to join the ensemble. In a year-long project, new members meet regularly to compose original music with MSO musicians.
Participating children are swept up into the world of Melbourne’s internationally acclaimed orchestra. Children visit the Hamer Hall, go backstage at an MSO performance, meet the orchestra’s accomplished conductor, play with professional musicians and more.
In 2008, the MSO ArtPlay Ensemble collaborated with other musicians, composing and performing original songs with the Black Armband group, and drumming with percussion ensemble Taikoz. At the end of 2008, the MSO ArtPlay Ensemble boasted more than 100 graduates.
The MSO started work modestly at ArtPlay, with a commissioned piece for ArtPlay’s official opening. But ArtPlay has this wonderful capacity to make things grow. In that bright open space, radiating light and possibility, the smallest ideas become bold.
In 2006, the MSO ArtPlay Ensemble was born as a year-long program for musicians aged eight to 13 years, working with MSO professionals to compose and perform their own music.
Today, the MSO ArtPlay Ensemble Program offers a progression of learning experiences for young musicians from one-day projects to an extended graduate program and more. The MSO and ArtPlay collaboration places creativity right at the centre of everything, building a framework that allows project content to deepen and broaden over time.
And year after year, participating children return to play in a graduate ensemble, always a little taller, demonstrating more and more sophistication in their work. Creative relationships are established between the children and the MSO musicians. Not only do the young participants benefit from the experience, but it is great for themusicians as well.
Gillian Howell
Creative Director,
Community Outreach
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Return to Cultural partnerships to learn about other ArtPlay partners.