When: Sunday 28 June 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 to this Celestial Performance head to trybooking.com/dkoat
South Side Symphony Orchestra is set to present its most ambitious concert to date, The Planets and Beyond, a spectacular afternoon of orchestral colour and drama conducted by Musical Director Izaak Wesson. The performance will take place on Sunday 28 June 2026, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at Corpus Christi College.
This special concert will feature nearly 80 musicians on stage, including invited guest players brought in to help realise the scale and complexity of the program. The expanded ensemble allows the orchestra to fully bring to life some of the most cinematic and expansive works in the orchestral repertoire.
At the heart of the program is Gustav Holst’s The Planets, a monumental seven-movement suite depicting the astrological character of each planet in our solar system. From the driving intensity of Mars, the Bringer of War, to the shimmering stillness of Neptune, the Mystic, Holst’s score demands vast orchestral forces, rich textures, and a wide sonic palette. With additional musicians joining the ensemble, audiences will experience the work in all its immersive scale and impact.
In contrast, Wagner’s Good Friday Music from Parsifal offers a moment of serene reflection and spiritual depth, while Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 delivers unmistakable grandeur and one of the most iconic themes in classical music. Respighi’s Pines of the Appian Way, from Pines of Rome, evokes the approach of ancient Roman legions along the Appian Way in a vast orchestral crescendo of intensity and brilliance.
Established in 2011, South Side Symphony Orchestra is a not-for-profit community ensemble based in Melville, made up of 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.
Musical Director Izaak Wesson says the expanded forces bring a new level of impact to the performance:
“The Planets is a work that really demands scale — not just in sound, but in imagination. With nearly 80 musicians on stage, including our guest players, we are able to realise the full power and colour of Holst’s vision. It’s incredibly exciting for the orchestra and I think audiences are going to feel that energy from the very first note. Combined with Wagner’s reflective beauty, Elgar’s brilliance, and Respighi’s cinematic power, this is shaping up to be one of our most memorable concerts yet.”