When: Sunday 22 November 2026, 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Where: The Theatre, Corpus Christi College, 50 Murdoch Drive, Bateman
Cost: $25 (Adults) $20 (Concession) $5 (Children 6-16) Free (Children under 6)
To book your tickets head to trybooking.com/DPBOV
The South Side Symphony Orchestra (SSSO) will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a special milestone concert at 2:30pm on Sunday, 22 November, at Corpus Christi College. This memorable occasion will feature not one, but two conductors: SSSO’s Musical Director Izaak Wesson and emerging conductor Bayden Adams, each presenting a carefully curated selection of works that showcase the orchestra’s musical journey, versatility and growth.
Tasked with selecting favourite works that represent a diverse range of composers, periods and styles, both conductors have assembled an exciting and engaging programme that highlights the breadth and talent of the orchestra.
Guest conductor Bayden Adams will lead the first half of the concert, which will feature three landmark works by three remarkable composers.
The programme will open with Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s Overture in C major, a significant work from a composer who wrote more than 460 pieces during her lifetime. Due to the social conventions of the 19th century, much of her music was confined to solo piano works, chamber music and cantatas. The Overture in C major remains her only orchestral work without a vocalist and demonstrates her extraordinary potential as an orchestral composer.
The programme will then continue with Giacomo Puccini’s Preludio Sinfonico, composed as part of his final assessment at the Milan Conservatory. Even in this early work, audiences will hear the rich harmonies and lyrical melodies that would later become hallmarks of his famous operas, including La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly.
The first half will conclude with highlights from Georges Bizet’s Carmen, his final and most celebrated opera. The Carmen Suites bring together many of the opera’s most memorable moments, featuring melodies that continue to captivate audiences and remain instantly recognisable around the world.
Following the interval, Izaak Wesson will lead the orchestra in a vibrant and varied second half.
The second half will open with Indian Pacific by acclaimed Western Australian composer James Ledger. Written as his first orchestral composition, the work captures the spirit and grandeur of a train journey across the Australian outback through sweeping melodies and ever-changing rhythms.
The programme will continue with Johann Strauss II’s Blue Danube Waltz, a work that holds special significance for the orchestra. As one of the first pieces performed by SSSO, it provides an opportunity to reflect on the orchestra’s artistic development and achievements over the past 15 years. Renowned for its elegant melodies, rhythmic vitality and unmistakable Viennese charm, it remains one of the world’s most beloved orchestral works.
The concert will conclude with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Festival Overture, complete with its famous and explosive finale. While the orchestra is still considering how best to recreate the work’s celebrated cannon effects, audiences can certainly expect a few surprises.
This celebratory concert will offer an afternoon of inspiring music, cherished memories and reflection on the remarkable journey of the South Side Symphony Orchestra over the past 15 years.
Established in 2011, the South Side Symphony Orchestra is a not-for-profit community ensemble based in Melville, bringing together musicians from a wide range of backgrounds. The orchestra is known for its ambitious programming, strong sense of community, and commitment to presenting large-scale orchestral works in an accessible and engaging way.
The South Side Symphony Orchestra is proudly supported by the City of Melville.