CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF
14–15 NOVEMBER 2025
HAMER HALL · ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE
THE MEASURE OF
A FUN NIGHT OUT IS SLEEPING IN AS LONG AS YOU LIKE TOMORROW Go out with new friends to one of our dining rooms, or have a big night out on the town. Then spend the next morning in your luxurious Ryman apartment, knowing it’s nothing but you and 1000 thread count cotton for as long as you like. Drop in to rymanhealthcare.com.au
CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF
Billy Joel with the
MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEONARD WEISS conductor MARK SUTCLIFFE director PHIL BURTON • ALINTA CHIDZEY JESS HITCHCOCK • JOSH PITERMAN JACK EARLE keys • TROY DOWNWARD guitar GAVIN PEARCE bass • KIERAN RAFFERTY drums World premiere with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra 7 February 2025 • Adelaide Festival Centre, Festival Theatre PIANO MAN is a Make My Mark Production
Friday 14 November 2025 • 7.30pm Saturday 15 November • 1.00pm & 7.30pm
Hamer Hall Arts Centre Melbourne
Where refined luxury meets symphony of culture A Hotel for the Arts and a proud supporting partner of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra 4 Book your stay now at www.sofitel-melbourne.com.au
PIANO MAN
In recent years we have lost many contemporary music icons and last year, together with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, we got to celebrate a couple of them: Olivia Newton-John and Burt Bacharach.
PHOTO: CLAUDIO RASCHELLA
NOW IN 2025, HOW GREAT IT IS TO CELEBRATE A LIVING ARTIST WHO IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF ALL TIME. For more than 50 years, American singer, songwriter and pianist Billy Joel has made an indelible mark on the American songbook. With 33 top 40 hits, five Grammy Awards and more than 160 million albums sold worldwide, he is truly a music icon.
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Though he recently announced that he was stepping away from touring due to illness, last year he released a brand new song, which premiered at the 2024 Grammy Awards, showing us that he is still as relevant today as he was when he was becoming the ‘Piano Man’ in the 1970s. Tonight, Piano Man brings together the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Leonard Weiss and our wonderful cast Phil Burton, Alinta Chidzey, Jess Hitchcock, Josh Piterman and our very own piano man Jack Earle. So sit back, or stand and dance (you may even get to sing along) and enjoy this celebration of the original Piano Man, Billy Joel. Thank you for joining us.
MARK SUTCLIFFE
Director & Executive Producer
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Act One BILLYTURE
The Orchestra
ROCK ’N’ ROLL MEDLEY
Phil Burton, Alinta Chidzey, Jess Hitchcock and Josh Piterman
VIENNA
Josh Piterman
MY LIFE
Jess Hitchcock
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE Alinta Chidzey
TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON Phil Burton
SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN / SHE’S GOT A WAY Phil Burton and Josh Piterman
LULLABYE (GOODNIGHT, MY ANGEL) Jess Hitchcock
HONESTY
Phil Burton
ALL ABOUT SOUL Josh Piterman
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND Alinta Chidzey
INTERVAL
Act Two AND SO IT GOES Jess Hitchcock
MOVIN’ OUT
Josh Piterman
THE LONGEST TIME / TELL HER ABOUT IT Phil Burton and Alinta Chidzey
GOODNIGHT SAIGON
Phil Burton, Alinta Chidzey, Jess Hitchcock and Josh Piterman
THIS IS THE TIME Jess Hitchcock
A MATTER OF TRUST Phil Burton
YOU’RE ONLY HUMAN (SECOND WIND) Alinta Chidzey
WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE
Phil Burton, Alinta Chidzey, Jess Hitchcock and Josh Piterman
PIANO MAN
Phil Burton, Alinta Chidzey, Jess Hitchcock and Josh Piterman All songs written by Billy Joel Orchestral arrangements by Nicholas Buc Duration: approx. 2 hours including a 20-minute interval
PHOTO BY FRANK LENNON / TORONTO STAR (1979) VIA GETTY IMAGES
CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF
He says, ‘Son, can you play me a memory?’ Press play on Billy Joel’s greatest hits and the memories come flooding back. There’s a song to signpost every part of your life. And every emotion. Asserting your independence (My Life). Striving to make it (Movin’ Out). Falling in lust (Only the Good Die Young). Falling in love (Just the Way You Are). Falling out of love (A Matter of Trust). Struggling to make a living (Pressure). Making mistakes (You’re Only Human). And he also documented the entire Cold War era in We Didn’t Start the Fire. Billy Joel has been a part of our lives for five decades, and he acknowledges the key role that Australia has played in his story. The stats are impressive: Billy has had 12 Top 10 albums in Australia, including four chart-toppers – 52nd Street, Storm Front, River of Dreams and Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection. Plus 17 Top 40 singles, including two charttoppers (Uptown Girl and The River of Dreams).
When I interviewed Billy for the release of his Greatest Hits Volume III, we spoke about how grateful he was to the Australian staff of Sony, many of whom had become close friends.
Molly stumbled his way through a 99-word opening question, highlighting the rave reviews that Billy’s Australian concerts had been getting. Billy’s response? Just two words: ‘All right.’
‘AUSTRALIA ACTUALLY PICKED UP ON MY MUSIC EVEN BEFORE IT BECAME POPULAR IN THE STATES,’ BILLY POINTED OUT.
The producers cut to a clip … and then Billy started talking. Molly yelled at Countdown’s floor manager, Ted Emery. ‘He’s talking! For God’s sake, come back to us!’
‘We all go way back. As I said, I was probably more well known in Australia before I became that well known in the States.’
‘SO,’ HE LAUGHED, ‘IT’S YOUR FAULT.’ Despite his success, Billy’s relationship with Australia has had a few rocky moments. Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum recalls that the American star’s first Countdown appearance, in 1976, did not go well. ‘In fact, it was a disaster,’ Molly smiles. ‘He didn’t want to be there. And I guess my first question didn’t help.’
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Molly laughs when recounting the story. ‘Fortunately, my interviews with Billy got better over the years.’ After another episode of Countdown, Billy had a shortlived feud with one of the nicest blokes in Australian music. When Mental As Anything’s Greedy Smith was hosting Countdown in 1981, he back announced Sometimes a Fantasy by saying, ‘Well, that was Billy Joel, for better or for worse.’ Later in the show, when Molly quizzed him about his indifference to the American artist, Greedy replied, ‘I haven’t heard any of his records, but he was a boxer who wasn’t very successful… Is he a good singer?’
Unbeknownst to Greedy, Billy was touring Australia and watching Countdown. And the next day, live on radio, he snapped: ‘Failed boxer? I’ll go a few rounds with him.’ The Mentals manager told the press: ‘Greedy will go a few rounds with Billy – a few rounds of sandwiches.’ Despite a few bumps along the way, Billy has enjoyed an enduring love affair with his Australian fans, playing 119 shows here, having toured Australia 11 times. ‘Australian audiences are great,’ the New Yorker says. ‘They are familiar with the more obscure stuff, too, which is wonderful – they know the album tracks.’ Billy also briefly dated Aussie supermodel Elle Macpherson. She inspired the songs And So It Goes, This Night and This is the Time, and was one of the inspirations for Uptown Girl. Something you might not know about Billy Joel – he’s a great cook. His Australian concert promoter Michael Chugg reveals: ‘Whenever Billy was staying in an apartment or villa rather than a hotel, he would invite a bunch of people from the entourage, including myself, and cook up a storm.’
PIANO MAN
Of course, our relationship with Billy Joel started when we first heard Piano Man. The song entered the Australian Top 40 in February 1976. But at the time, we didn’t know it was a true story.
(Fun fact: Elizabeth Joel was the American manager of Australian band The Sports, who gave Michael Gudinski’s Mushroom Group their first Top 50 hit in the US with Who Listens to the Radio.)
‘They were all real people, and that was an actual gig I had in 1972,’ Billy explains.
LOOKING BACK ON HIS ‘PIANO MAN’ DAYS, BILLY SAYS: ‘IT WASN’T A LOT OF FUN FOR ME, BUT THE FREE DRINKS HELPED.’
Trying to escape a bad recording contract, Billy relocated to Los Angeles, where he got a gig playing at a piano bar under the name of Bill Martin (Billy’s full name is William Martin Joel). The song gave Billy his nickname, though he did the piano gig at the Executive Room on Wilshire Boulevard for only six months. ‘Before that, I’d always played in rock ’n’ roll bands,’ he notes.
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Whatever the genre, it’s still rock ’n’ roll to me. And unforgettable songs that will make you ‘forget about life for a while’. Jeff Jenkins © 2025 Music journalist Jeff Jenkins is the author of several books, including 50 Years of Rock in Australia, and is the co-author of Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum’s memoirs, The Never, Um, Ever Ending Story and Ah Well, Nobody’s Perfect. PHOTO: SLGCKGC (2017) CC BY 2.0
The staff and patrons included a bartender named John, a guy named Davy who was in the navy, and a real estate broker who was trying to write the Great American Novel. And the waitress practising politics? That was Billy’s first wife, Elizabeth, who was working as a waitress at that cocktail bar.
Five decades on, a Billy Joel best-of is a treasure trove of memories – and a history of popular music. His catalogue plays like an old-style radio station, where they played anything and everything.
Rock, pop, soul, gospel, jazz, doo-wop and classical. Billy Joel has done it all. And when he ventured into rap with We Didn’t Start the Fire, he joked that he thought about releasing the song under the name of ‘Plain White Rapper’.
‘I never repeated myself,’ Billy points out. ‘I’ve always changed from album to album.’ Though he sang, ‘Your mementos will turn to dust, but that’s the price you pay / For every year is a souvenir that slowly fades away’, Billy Joel’s songs will last forever.
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DIRECTOR
His accolades include the Mr and Mrs Gerald Frank New Churchill Fellowship (CF), an Australia Council Career Development Grant and an Ars Musica Australis Arts Fellowship. Earlier this year, he won the 21st Khachaturian International Competition in Armenia and also received the Special Prize for Best Interpretation of Khachaturian’s Symphony No. 2, earning an invitation to conduct the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra in their 2026–27 season. He subsequently won Third Prize at the Arturo Toscanini International Conducting Competition and was invited to the prestigious Concours de Genève.
MARK SUTCLIFFE
As the MSO’s Cybec Assistant Conductor since 2024, he has conducted a variety of programs, including the 2024 Metropolis Festival, concerts shared with James Ehnes, ABC Classic broadcasts, his Sidney Myer Music Bowl debut, and A Celebration of Burt Bacharach: What the World Needs Now.
He was previously the 2022 New Zealand Assistant Conductor in Residence, working particularly closely with the Auckland Philharmonia. He studied with Marin Alsop at the Peabody Conservatory, receiving the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s BSO–Peabody Fellowship, and he has participated in masterclasses with Riccardo Muti, Gianandrea Noseda, the Salzburg Festival and the Australian Conducting Academy.
PHOTO: HARVEY HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
CONDUCTOR
LEONARD WEISS
PHOTO: WILLIAM HALL
LEONARD WEISS cf will mark several milestones in 2026, including his mainstage Boston Symphony Orchestra debut in a program shared with Music Director Andris Nelsons, following his Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Fellowship earlier this year. As the recipient of the 2025 Berlin Music Opera Award (The Opera Foundation for Young Australians), he will also work as Assistant Conductor at Deutsche Opera Berlin. In Australasia he makes debut appearances with the Adelaide and Queensland symphony orchestras, and will return to the MSO and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
MARK SUTCLIFFE is a Creative Director and Executive Producer with over 25 years’ experience in the live entertainment and performing arts industry. Through his company, Make My Mark, he has created and produced orchestral concerts celebrating icons including To Barbra, With Love (Barbra Streisand), Hopelessly Devoted (Olivia NewtonJohn), What the World Needs Now (Burt Bacharach), Strictly Baz Luhrmann and Piano Man, which premiered with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in February. He also co-created Davie Bowie: Nothing Has Changed and George Michael: Freedom! with Amanda Pelman.
In addition to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Mark has worked with organisations including Opera Australia, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Live Nation, Powerhouse Museum, Global Creatures, Sydney Theatre Company, Art Gallery of NSW, National Gallery of Australia, ACON, OzHarvest and the Almeida Theatre in London.
Leonard Weiss’s position as MSO Assistant Conductor is supported by Cybec Foundation
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“SING US A SONG, YOU’RE THE PIANO MAN
Sing us a song tonight
WELL, WE’RE ALL IN THE MOOD FOR A MELODY AND YOU’VE GOT US FEELIN’ ALRIGHT”
ADELAIDE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND ARTISTS (FEB 2025) PHOTO: CLAUDIO RASCHELLA
Human Nature’s illustrious 35-year career has seen them release 13 studio albums, which have yielded 27 platinum awards, 19 top 40 singles, five top 10 worldwide hits, and album sales in excess of 2.5 million in Australia alone. In 2019 they were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall Of Fame, and each member received a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to charity, entertainment and the arts.
Phil is a recognisable and comforting presence across all facets of Australian entertainment. Whether presenting The Morning Show or The Great Outdoors on Channel 7, winning the Mirrorball Trophy on Dancing with the Stars, hosting and singing for the iconic Burn the Floor dance show, performing in front of symphony orchestras, emceeing corporate events, appearing regularly on radio stations such as KIIS FM and 2GB, or performing his own exciting live solo shows, Phil’s presence is always commanding, natural and wonderfully entertaining. Phil is also a highly intelligent person with a deep wealth of knowledge in many subjects – a strength highlighted when he won Australia’s Brainiest Musician (Channel 10) and was named reigning champion of Celebrity Mastermind (SBS).
ALINTA CHIDZEY
Phil is a co-founder and member of one of the world’s finest pop vocal groups – Human Nature. The group’s distinctive harmonies, catchy tunes and stellar live shows have won fans all over the globe, cementing them as one of Australia’s finest exports.
Phil returned home to Australia in late 2020, following an 11-year, 2500show residency at the Imperial Palace and Venetian casinos in Las Vegas. He continues to perform as a member of Human Nature in all their Australian shows.
PHOTO: KATE WILLIAMS
PHIL BURTON
PHOTO: CARLOTTA MOYE
PHIL BURTON oam is one of Australia’s most beloved and respected entertainers. A multi-talented singer, live performer and media personality, he has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning more than 30 years on both the Australian and international stage.
ALINTA CHIDZEY is one of Australia’s most captivating leading ladies. A multi-award winner, she originated the role of Satine in the Australian national tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and played the famed role of Velma Kelly in Chicago and sassy Anita in West Side Story, which saw her nominated for Helpmann, Green Room and Sydney Theatre awards. Her most recent screen credits include the main-cast role of Maeve Miller in Jaggi Entertainment’s feature film Her Aussie Romance. An accomplished singer, songwriter and recording artist, Alinta frequently performs at events and concerts across the country, including Melbourne Fashion Week, the Australian Open, State of Origin and the NRL Grand Final.
She performed alongside Hugh Jackman in his Broadway to Oz tour and played Petra for the Victorian Opera production of A Little Night Music. Other notable stage roles include Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain and Svetlana in Chess, for which she received a Green Room Award for Best Female Artist in a Supporting Role. Her screen credits include Wentworth, Winners & Losers, the US telemovie The Frontier, The Dr Blake Mysteries and Neighbours. Other stage credits include the Australasian tour of Mamma Mia!, Dusty: The Original Pop Diva, Demeter in Cats, Mary Poppins; the Netherlands season of Dirty Dancing; a tour of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alice in the play Closer, and Mickey in Leader of the Pack, for which she received yet another Green Room Award.
On top of all of this, Phil continues to thrill audiences nationwide as part of Human Nature’s MTWN20 metro and regional tour celebrations through 2025–26.
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PIANO MAN
Jess’s connection to her family throughout the Torres Strait, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific drives her passion to create and advocate for a more just world. With her unique artistry as a genredefying songwriter and performer, she stands out as a distinctive figure in contemporary music.
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JOSH PITERMAN
Her most recent appearance for the MSO was in the 2025 NAIDOC Week celebration concert Yinya dana: Lighting the Path, performing music by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon. Other notable collaborations include legendary Australian singersongwriter Paul Kelly: performing and recording his song, ‘Everyday My Mother’s Voice’, and touring Australia and New Zealand. Jess has also collaborated with Archie Roach, Tina Arena, Kate Miller-Heidke and Lisa Mitchell, and last year she performed to acclaim in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
PHOTO: MARNYA ROTHE
Jess is currently working on a new album while composing an opera, both of which promise to showcase her creative evolution, reaching into multiple genres and transporting listeners through the worlds of her songs.
JESS HITCHCOCK
PHOTO: CLAUDIO RASCHELLA
JESS HITCHCOCK captivates audiences with her powerful voice and evocative storytelling. A singersongwriter with a unique blend of pop, country, folk and opera, she crafts an enchanting style of song that resonates in its unique sound.
JOSH PITERMAN is a singer, actor, podcaster and speaker and the first Australian to play both Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and the Phantom in the original production of The Phantom of the Opera on London’s West End. His other major theatrical credits include the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera (Australia 2022–23), Tony in the 2010 Australian production of West Side Story, Bustopher Jones/Gus/ Growltiger in the 2015–16 Australian season of Cats (winning the Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairspray, and Gerry Goffin in the 2017–18 Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Josh has also appeared in an array of events, concerts and TV performances, including Performance of a Lifetime with the MSO at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl; Carols by Candlelight, the Australia Day Live Concert outside the Sydney Opera House, and the National Anthem at the MCG Boxing Day Test, the Sydney New Year’s Test, the Bledisloe
Cup and the State of Origin; and he wowed audiences with his performance of ‘Music of the Night’ at the Australian Open Tennis Finals. In 2018 his self-titled debut album went to #1 on both the Aria and iTunes Charts (Classical Crossover) in Australia. Josh has worn many masks off- and onstage, but as a student of life and with a constant growth mindset, he has always been fascinated and curious about what’s happening behind the masks we wear both individually and collectively as a society. His #2 charted Self-Improvement Podcast Behind The Mask invites an array of extraordinary guests to take a deep dive into the spaces that often go unseen, and his debut book of the same name was released in April this year (Echo Publishing). Josh is a proud ambassador for the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and My Room Children’s Cancer Charity.
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MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is Australia’s preeminent orchestra, dedicated to creating meaningful experiences that transcend borders and connect communities. Through the shared language of music, the MSO delivers performances of the highest standard, enriching lives and inspiring audiences across the globe. Woven into the cultural fabric of Victoria and with a history spanning more than a century, the MSO reaches five million people annually through performances, TV, radio and online broadcasts, as well as critically acclaimed recordings from its newly established recording label. In 2025, Jaime Martín continues to lead the Orchestra as Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor. Maestro Martín leads an Artistic Family that includes Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor – Learning & Engagement Benjamin Northey, Cybec Assistant Conductor Leonard Weiss, MSO Chorus
Director Warren Trevelyan-Jones, Composer in Residence Liza Lim am, Artist in Residence James Ehnes, First Nations Creative Chair Deborah Cheetham Fraillon ao, Cybec Young Composer in Residence Klearhos Murphy, Cybec First Nations Composer in Residence James Henry, Artist in Residence – Learning & Engagement Karen Kyriakou, Young Artist in Association Christian Li, and Artistic Ambassadors Tan Dun, Lu Siqing and Xian Zhang. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra respectfully acknowledges the people of the Eastern Kulin Nations, on whose un‑ceded lands we honour the continuation of the oldest music practice in the world.
PRODUCTION CREDITS MAKE MY MARK
PIANO MAN
WITH THANKS TO…
Executive Producer Mark Sutcliffe Associate Producer Josh Piterman
Lighting Designer Peter Rubie Associate Lighting Designer Alastair Swanson, Light Innovations Production Equipment Partner Light Innovations Audio Engineer Samuel Moxham, Arts Centre Melbourne Stage Manager Maija Putans Monitor Engineer Evan Drill Hair & Make Up Artist Jessica Jenkins Piano Cover Adrian Portell
Nicholas Buc, Melanie Hiluta, Jennifer Fontaine, Catherine Poulton, Sian Darling and James Grierson
MSO PRESENTS Executive Producer Erika Noguchi Associate Producer and Artist Liaison Kate Weston Production Manager Brenton Burley Production Lead Renn Picard
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ENCORES RIVER OF DREAMS UPTOWN GIRL Phil Burton, Alinta Chidzey, Jess Hitchcock and Josh Piterman Songs by Billy Joel Orchestral arrangements by Nicholas Buc
PIANO MAN
MSO MUSICIANS IN THIS CONCERT First Violins
Violas
Flutes
Trumpets
Peter Edwards
Lauren Brigden Katharine Brockman Gabrielle Halloran Fiona Sargeant Ceridwen Davies Isabel Morse
Prudence Davis Principal
Shane Hooton
Dawna Wright and Peter Riedel*
Cellos
Lorraine Hook
Rohan de Korte
David Thomas Principal
Kirstin Kenny Eleanor Mancini
Rebecca Proietto
Assistant Principal
Sarah Curro
Dr Harry Imber*
Peter Fellin Deborah Goodall Karla Hanna
Jolene S Coultas*
Anne Neil*
Michelle Ruffolo Anna Skálová
Second Violins Jos Jonker
Associate Principal
Emily Beauchamp Mary Allison Isin Cakmakçioglu Tiffany Cheng
Andrew Dudgeon AM* Peter T Kempen AM*
Angela Sargeant Caleb Wong Michelle Wood
Andrew and Theresa Dyer *
Double Basses Jonathon Coco Principal Rohan Dasika
Jean Hadges*
Sara Beggs
Oboe Rachel Curkpatrick
Clarinet Saxophone Tim Wilson
Horns Nicholas Fleury Principal Margaret Jackson AC*
Rachel Shaw
Gary McPherson*
Associate Principal Glenn Sedgwick*
Calum G’Froerer Adam Davis
Trombones Richard Shirley Iain Faragher
Bass Trombone Mike Szabo Principal
Timpani John Arcaro
Tim and Lyn Edward*
Percussion Robert Cossom
Drs Rhyl Wade and Clem Gruen*
Acting Associate Principal
Emma Sullivan Caitlin Bass
Val Dyke*
Freya Franzen Cong Gu Andrew Hall Philippa West
Andrew Dudgeon AM*
Patrick Wong Cecilie Hall*
Roger Young
Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan*
Learn more about our musicians on the MSO website. * Position supported by MSO 2025 SEASON
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SUPPORTERS MSO Patron
Program Benefactors
Her Excellency Professor, the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria
MSO Now & Forever Fund: International Engagement Gandel Foundation
Honorary Appointments
Artist Development Programs – Cybec Foundation Cybec Young Composer in Residence Cybec First Nations Composer in Residence Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers Program
Chair Emeritus Dr David Li AM Life Members John Gandel AC and Pauline Gandel AC Jean Hadges Sir Elton John CBE Lady Primrose Potter AC Jeanne Pratt AC Lady Marigold Southey AC Michael Ullmer AO and Jenny Ullmer
Community and Public Programs Australian Government Department of Social Services, AWM Electrical, City of Melbourne, Hansen Little Foundation, Prof. Mary-Jane Gething AO
MSO Ambassador Geoffrey Rush AC
Student Subsidy Program Anonymous
Artist Chair Benefactors
Jams in Schools Melbourne Airport, Department of Education, Victoria – through the Strategic Partnerships Program, AWM Electrical, Jean Hadges, Hume City Council, Marian and EH Flack Trust
Chief Conductor Chair Jaime Martín Supported by the Besen Family Foundation Cybec Assistant Conductor Chair Leonard Weiss CF Cybec Foundation
MSO Regional Touring AWM Electrical, Freemasons Foundation Victoria, Robert Salzer Foundation, Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation, Rural City of Wangaratta, Estate of the late Blanch Brooke Hutchings, Perpetual Foundation – Alan (AGL) Shaw Endowment
Platinum Patrons ($100,000+) AWM Electrical Q Besen Family Foundation Prof Mary-Jane Gething AO ♡ The Gross Foundation ♡ Dr David Li AM and Angela Li Q Lady Primrose Potter AC Anonymous (2)
Virtuoso Patrons ($50,000+) The Aranday Foundation Q Mrs Jennifer Brukner OAM Q Tim and Lyn Edward ♡ ♫ Dr Harry Imber ♡ Margaret Jackson AC ♡ Lady Marigold Southey AC Q The Yulgilbar Foundation Q
Impresario Patrons ($20,000+)
Christine and Mark Armour Ren Barlow Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan ♡ Q Debbie Dadon AM Q Catherine and Fred Gerardson The Hogan Family Foundation Pauline and David Lawton ♡ Jaime Martín Paul Noonan Elizabeth Proust AO and Brian Lawrence ☼ Sage Foundation ☼ The Sun Foundation
Sidney Myer Free Concerts Sidney Myer MSO Trust Fund and the University of Melbourne, City of Melbourne Event Partnerships Program Instrument Fund Tim and Lyn Edward, Catherine and Fred Gerardson, Pauline and David Lawton, Joe White Bequest
♡ Chair Sponsor 2025 Europe Tour Circle ☼ First Nations Circle ♫ Commissioning Circle ∞ Future MSO
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PIANO MAN
Maestro Patrons ($10,000+)
John and Lorraine Bates ☼ Margaret Billson and the late Ted Billson ♡ John Calvert-Jones AM and Janet Calvert‑Jones AO Q Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM Jolene S Coultas Q ♡ The Cuming Bequest Miss Ann Darby in memory of Leslie J. Darby Anthony and Marina Darling Q Andrew Dudgeon AM ♡ Andrew and Theresa Dyer Q ♡ Val Dyke ♡ The Finkel Foundation Q Kim and Robert Gearon ♡ The Glenholme Foundation Q Charles & Cornelia Goode Foundation Q Cecilie Hall and the late Hon Michael Watt KC ♡ ♫ Hanlon Foundation ♡ Michael Heine Q David Horowicz ♡ Q Peter T Kempen AM ♡ Q Owen and Georgia Kerr Q Suzanne Kirkham Peter Lovell Janet Matton AM & Robin Rowe Q Rosemary and the late Douglas Meagher ♡ The Myer Foundation Dr Justin O’Day and Sally O’Day Q Ian and Jeannie Paterson Quin and Lina Scalzo Q Glenn Sedgwick ♡ Q Cathy Simpson and John Simpson AM Q David Smorgon OAM and Kathie Smorgon Q Straight Bat Private Equity Q Athalie Williams and Tim Danielson Lyn Williams AC Q The Wingate Group Q Anonymous (2)
MSO 2025 SEASON
Principal Patrons ($5,000+)
Arnold Bloch Leibler Q Mary Armour Philip Bacon AO Q Alexandra Baker Barbara Bell in memory of Elsa Bell Julia and Jim Breen Nigel and Sheena Broughton Jannie Brown Chasam Foundation Q Janet Chauvel and the late Dr Richard Chauvel John Coppock OAM and Lyn Coppock David and Kathy Danziger Mary Davidson and the late Frederick Davidson AM Carol des Cognets George and Laila Embelton Q Equity Trustees ☼ Bill Fleming Q John and Diana Frew ♡ Carrillo Gantner AC and Ziyin Gantner Geelong Friends of the MSO The Glavas Family Louise Gourlay AM Q Dr Rhyl Wade and Dr Clem Gruen ♡ Louis J Hamon OAM Dr Keith Higgins and Dr Jane Joshi Jo Horgan AM & Peter Wetenhall Q Geoff and Denise Illing Dr Alastair Jackson AM Q John Jones Konfir Kabo Merv Keehn and Sue Harlow Mr Ian Kennedy AM & Dr Sandra Hacker AO Liza Lim AM ♫ Lucas Family Foundation ♡ Morris and Helen Margolis ♡ Samantha Mark Allan and Evelyn McLaren Dr Isabel McLean Gary McPherson ♡ The Mercer Family Foundation Suzie and Edgar Myer Rupert Myer AO and Annabel Myer Anne Neil in memory of Murray A. Neil ♡ Patricia Nilsson ♡ Sophie Oh Phillip Prendergast Q Ralph and Ruth Renard Jan and Keith Richards Dr Rosemary Ayton and Professor Sam Ricketson AM Gillian Ruan Q The Kate and Stephen Shelmerdine Family Foundation Q Helen Silver AO and Harrison Young Brian Snape AM Dr Michael Soon Gai and David Taylor P & E Turner The Upotipotpon Foundation Q Mary Waldron Janet Whiting AM and Phil Lukies Q Kee Wong and Wai Tang Q Dawna Wright and Peter Riedel ♡ Peter Yunghanns Q Igor Zambelli Shirley and Jeffrey Zajac Anonymous (4)
Associate Patrons ($2,500+)
Barry and Margaret Amond Carolyn Baker Marlyn Bancroft and Peter Bancroft OAM Janet H Bell Allen and Kathryn Bloom Drs Alan and Jennifer Breschkin Stuart Brown Lynne Burgess Dr Lynda Campbell Oliver Carton Caroline Davies Leo de Lange Sandra Dent Rodney Dux Diane and Stephen Fisher Martin Foley Q Barry Fradkin OAM and Dr Pam Fradkin Anthony Garvey and Estelle O’Callaghan Janette Gill R Goldberg and Family Goldschlager Family Charitable Foundation Colin Golvan AM KC and Dr Deborah Golvan Miss Catherine Gray Marshall Grosby and Margie Bromilow Susan and Gary Hearst Amy and Paul Jasper Sandy Jenkins Sue Johnston Melissa Tonkin & George Kokkinos Dr Jenny Lewis David R Lloyd Andrew Lockwood Margaret and John Mason OAM Lisa and Brad Matthews Dr Paul Nisselle AM Simon O’Brien Roger Parker and Ruth Parker Alan and Dorothy Pattison Liz and Graham Pratt James Ring Tom and Elizabeth Romanowski Dr Ronald and Elizabeth Rosanove Christopher Menz and Peter Rose Meredith Schilling SC Marshall Segan in memory of Berek Segan OBE AM and Marysia Segan Steinicke Family Jenny Tatchell Christina Turner Timothy Walker CBE AM Bob Weis Anonymous (5)
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Player Patrons ($1,000+)
Dr Sally Adams Don Adamson Jessica Agoston Cleary ∞ Don Adamson Helena Anderson Applebay Pty Ltd Margaret Astbury Geoffrey and Vivienne Baker Mr Robin Batterham Peter Berry and Amanda Quirk Rick Berry William Birch Richard Bolitho Boncal Family Foundation Michael Bowles and Alma Gill Joyce Bown Drs John D L Brookes and Lucy V Hanlon Roger and Coll Buckle Jill and Christopher Buckley Ronald Burnstein Daniel Bushaway and Tess Hamilton Alexandra Champion de Crespigny ∞ John Chapman and Elisabeth Murphy Kaye Cleary Warren and Margaret Collins Sue Dahn Mrs Nola Daley Panch Das and Laurel Young-Das Michael Davies and Drina Staples Rick and Sue Deering John and Anne Duncan Jane Edmanson OAM Christopher R Fraser Miles George David I Gibbs AM and Susie O’Neill Sonia Gilderdale Dr Celia Godfrey Dr Marged Goode Fred and Alexandra Grimwade Q Hilary Hall, in memory of Wilma Collie David Hardy Cathy Henry Gwenda Henry Anthony and Karen Ho In Memory of Rosemary Hodgson Anna Holdsworth Rod Home Lorraine Hook Doug Hooley Katherine Horwood Penelope Hughes Shyama Jayaswal Basil and Rita Jenkins Jane Jenkins Wendy Johnson Dr Gint Kalpokas and Dr Michael Upson Angela Kayser Drs Bruce and Natalie Kellett Dr Anne Kennedy Akira Kikkawa ∞ Dr Richard Knafelc and Mr Grevis Beard Tim Knaggs Dr Jerry Koliha and Marlene Krelle Jane Kunstler Ann Lahore Wilson Lai and Anita Wong Q Kerry Landman Janet and Ross Lapworth Rex Lau
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Bryan Lawrence Halina Lewenberg Charitable Foundation Phil Lewis Elizabeth H Loftus David Loggia Chris and Anna Long Elena Lovu Wayne McDonald and Kay Schroer Andrea McCall Lesley McMullin Foundation Dr Eric Meadows Ian Merrylees Sylvia Miller Ian Morrey and Geoffrey Minter Susan Morgan ∞ Anthony and Anna Morton Dr Judith S Nimmo George Pappas AO, in memory of Jillian Pappas Bruce Parncutt AO Ian Penboss Peter Priest Professor Charles Qin OAM and Kate Ritchie Eli and Lorraine Raskin Michael Riordan and Geoffrey Bush Cathy Rogers OAM and Dr Peter Rogers AM Guy Ross ☼ Marie Rowland Liliane Rusek and Alexander Ushakoff Viorica Samson Martin and Susan Shirley P Shore Kieran Sladen Janet and Alex Starr Dr Peter Strickland Bernard Sweeney Russell Taylor and Tara Obeyesekere Frank Tisher OAM and Dr Miriam Tisher Margaret Toomey Andrew and Penny Torok Chris and Helen Trueman Ann and Larry Turner Dr Elsa Underhill and Professor Malcolm Rimmer Nicholas and Faith Vann Jayde Walker ∞ Edward and Paddy White Willcock Family Dr Kelly and Dr Heathcote Wright Demetrio Zema ∞ Anonymous (19)
Overture Patrons ($500+)
Margaret Abbey PSM Jane Allan and Mark Redmond Jenny Anderson Doris Au Lyn Bailey Robbie Barker Anne M Bowden Caroline Bowler Stephen and Caroline Brain Robert Bridgart Miranda Brockman Dr Robert Brook Christine Brown Elizabeth Brown Phillip Brown
Patricia Buchanan Marc Buchholz and Stephan Duchesne Ian Carson AM Jungpin Chen Dr Hyein Ellen Cho Alan and Wendy Chuck Robert and Katherine Coco Dr John Collins Gregory Crew Sue Cummings Dr Catherine Duncan Dr Matthew Dunn Vivien and Jack Fajgenbaum Brian Florence Nadine Fogale Elizabeth Foster Chris Freelance M C Friday Simon Gaites Nikki Gaskell Lili Gearon Dr Julia Gellatly David and Geraldine Glenny Hugo and Diane Goetze The late George Hampel AM KC and Felicity Hampel AM SC Dr Neville Hathaway Geoff Hayes Alison Heard Noela Henderson Dr Jennifer Henry C M Herd Endowment Carole and Kenneth Hinchliff William Holder Peter and Jenny Hordern Gillian Horwood Oliver Hutton and Weiyang Li Rob Jackson Ian Jamieson Karen Johnson Linda Jones Leonora Kearney Jennifer Kearney John Keys Lesley King Dr Judith Kinnear Katherine Kirby Heather Law Peter Letts Sarah and Andrew Lindsay Dr Helen MacLean Sandra Masel in memory of Leigh Masel Janice Mayfield Dr James McComish Gail McKay Jennifer McKean Shirley A McKenzie Richard McNeill Marie Misiurak Professor Heather Mitchell Joan Mullumby Yoko Murakoshi Rebecca-Kate Nayton Adrian and Louise Nelson Marian Neumann Ed Newbigin Valerie Newman Amanda O’Brien Rosemary O’Connor Brendan O’Donnell
PIANO MAN
Phil Parker Sarah Patterson The Hon Chris Pearce and Andrea Pearce Jason Peart William Ramirez Geoffrey Ravenscroft Ian Reddoch Dr Christopher Rees Fred and Patricia Russell Carolyn Sanders Julia Schlapp Irene Sutton Tom Sykes Allison Taylor Hugh and Elizabeth Taylor Lily Tell Serey Thir Geoffrey Thomlinson Mely Tjandra Noel and Jenny Turnbull Rosemary Warnock Amanda Wasilewski Amanda Watson Michael Whishaw Deborah and Dr Kevin Whithear OAM Adrian Wigney David Willersdorf AM and Linda Willersdorf Charles and Jill Wright Richard Ye Anonymous (13)
MSO Guardians
Jenny Anderson David Angelovich Lesley Bawden Peter Berry and Amanda Quirk Tarna Bibron Joyce Bown Patricia A Breslin B J Brown Jannie Brown Jenny Brukner and the late John Brukner Sarah Bullen Georgie Burg Peter A Caldwell Peter Cameron and Craig Moffatt Luci and Ron Chambers Roger Chao Sandra Dent James Dipnall Sophie E Dougall in memory of Libby Harold Alan Egan JP Gunta Eglite Marguerite Garnon-Williams Dr Clem Gruen and Dr Rhyl Wade Louis J Hamon OAM Charles Hardman and Julianne Bambacas Carol Hay Dr Jennifer Henry Graham Hogarth Rod Home David Horowicz Lyndon Horsburgh Katherine Horwood Tony Howe Lindsay Wynne Jacombs Michael Christopher Scott Jacombs John Jones
MSO 2025 SEASON
Merv Keehn and Sue Harlow Pauline and David Lawton Robyn and Maurice Lichter Christopher Menz and Peter Rose Dr Helen MacLean Cameron Mowat Laurence O’Keefe and Christopher James David Orr Matthew O’Sullivan Rosia Pasteur Kerryn Pratchett Penny Rawlins Margaret Riches Anne Roussac-Hoyne and Neil Roussac Michael Ryan and Wendy Mead Anne Kieni Serpell and Andrew Serpell Jennifer Shepherd Suzette Sherazee Professors Gabriela and George Stephenson Pamela Swansson Frank Tisher OAM and Dr Miriam Tisher Mr and Mrs R P Trebilcock Christina Helen Turner Michael Ullmer AO The Hon Rosemary Varty Francis Vergona Mr Steve Vertigan and Ms Yolande van Oosten Tam Vu and Dr Cherilyn Tillman Robert Weiss and Jacqueline Orian Terry Wills Cooke OAM and the late Marian Wills Cooke Mark Young Anonymous (18) The MSO gratefully acknowledges the support of the following Estates Norma Ruth Atwell Angela Beagley Barbara Bobbe Michael Francois Boyt Christine Mary Bridgart Margaret Anne Brien Ken Bullen Deidre and Malcolm Carkeek Elizabeth Ann Cousins The Cuming Bequest Margaret Davies Blair Doig Dixon Neilma Gantner Angela Felicity Glover The Hon Dr Alan Goldberg AO QC Derek John Grantham Delina Victoria Schembri-Hardy Enid Florence Hookey Gwen Hunt Family and Friends of James Jacoby Audrey Jenkins Joan Jones Pauline Marie Johnston George and Grace Kass Christine Mary Kellam C P Kemp Jennifer Selina Laurent Sylvia Rose Lavelle Dr Elizabeth Ann Lewis AM Peter Forbes MacLaren Joan Winsome Maslen Lorraine Maxine Meldrum
Professor Andrew McCredie Jean Moore Joan P Robinson Maxwell and Jill Schultz Miss Sheila Scotter AM MBE Marion A I H M Spence Molly Stephens Gwennyth St John Halinka Tarczynska-Fiddian Jennifer May Teague Elisabeth Turner Albert Henry Ullin Cecilia Edith Umber Jean Tweedie Herta and Fred B Vogel Dorothy Wood Joyce Winsome Woodroffe The MSO honours the memory of Life Members The late Marc Besen AC and the late Eva Besen AO John Brockman OAM The Hon Alan Goldberg AO QC Harold Mitchell AC Roger Riordan AM Ila Vanrenen Listing current as of 29 October 2025 The MSO relies on the generosity of our community to help us enrich lives through music, foster artistic excellence, and reach new audiences. Thank you for your support.
♡
Chair Sponsors – supporting the beating heart of the MSO.
2025 Europe Tour Circle patrons – elevating the MSO on the world stage.
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First Nations Circle patrons – supporting First Nations artist development and performance initiatives.
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Commissioning Circle patrons – contributing to the evolution of our beloved art form.
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Future MSO patrons – the next generation of giving.
The MSO welcomes support at any level. Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.
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MSO FAMILY MSO Board
MSO Staff
Chair Edgar Myer
Richard Wigley Chief Executive Officer
Co-Deputy Chairs Martin Foley Farrel Meltzer
ARTISTIC OPERATIONS
Board Directors Shane Buggle Tony Grybowski Lorraine Hook Chris Howlett Joel McGuinness Gary McPherson Lisa Mitchell Meredith Schilling SC Mary Waldron Company Secretary Randal Williams
MSO Artistic Family Jaime Martín Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor Benjamin Northey Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor – Learning and Engagement Leonard Weiss CF Cybec Assistant Conductor Sir Andrew Davis CBE † Conductor Laureate (2013–2024) Hiroyuki Iwaki † Conductor Laureate (1974–2006) Warren Trevelyan-Jones MSO Chorus Director James Ehnes Artist in Residence Karen Kyriakou Artist in Residence – Learning and Engagement
Simonette Turner Director of Orchestra & Operations Meg Bowker Orchestra Manager Ffion Edwards Orchestra Manager Callum Moncrieff Head of Operations Brenton Burley Production Manager Renn Picard Production Coordinator Andrew Robinson Production Coordinator Nicholas Cooper Operations Coordinator Katharine Bartholomeusz-Plows Head of Artistic Planning Keturah Haisman Artistic & Engagement Manager Veronika Reeves Artistic Administrator Julia Potter Artistic Coordinator Jennifer Collins Principal Librarian Glynn Davies Orchestra Librarian Meg Baker Chorus Administrator Nicholas Bochner Head of Learning & Engagement
Christian Li Young Artist in Association
Erica Dawkins Learning & Engagement Lead
Liza Lim AM Composer in Residence
Fergus Inder Jams Program Coordinator
Klearhos Murphy Cybec Young Composer in Residence
Erika Noguchi Executive Producer, MSO Presents
James Henry Cybec First Nations Composer in Residence
Kate Weston Associate Producer, MSO Presents
Prof. Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO First Nations Creative Chair
DEVELOPMENT & REACH
Xian Zhang, Lu Siqing, Tan Dun Artistic Ambassadors
Suzanne Dembo Chief Operating Officer Amy Jackett Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer Caroline Buckley Head of Strategic Priorities Christina Chiam Head of Development
Isobel Lake Grants & Reporting Lead Keith Clancy Donor Liaison Nellie McLean Head of Partnerships Nina Dubecki Events & Partnerships Lead Jayde Walker Director of Brand & Communications Phil Paschke Senior Manager, Content & Digital Samantha Meuleman Digital Content Lead Prue Bassett Publicity Manager Beckie Peel Social Media Coordinator Dylan Stewart Director of Marketing & Sales Shannon Toyne Head of Marketing & Sales Sally Hern Senior Manager, Campaign Marketing Claudia Biaggini Senior Marketing Coordinator Leah Toyne Marketing Administrator Alison Kearney Customer Experience Manager Nicole Rees CRM & insights Manager Sam Harvey CRM & Data Specialist Marta Arquero Ticketing & Customer Experience Coordinator Box Office Attendants Angela, Ashley, Bec, Ben, Bradd, Christine, Emil, Grace, Jessica, Josh, Kara, Kez, Leah, Lucy, Maeve, Sasha, Stephanie FINANCE & PEOPLE AND CULTURE Alistair Mytton Chief Financial Officer Sonia Yakub Senior Management Accountant Lilian Karidza Assistant Accountant Matthew Bagi Project Officer Holly Wighton People & Culture Lead Aileen Eyou People & Culture Administration Officer
Charlotte Crocker Philanthropy Programs Lead
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PIANO MAN
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS Principal Partner
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Education Partners
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Major Partners
Government Partners
International Law Firm Partner
Supporting Partners
Media and Broadcast Partners
Trusts and Foundations
Freemasons Foundation Victoria
Estate of the late Blanch Brooke Hutchings
MSO 2025 SEASON
Sidney Myer MSO Trust Fund
Perpetual Foundation – Alan (AGL) Shaw Endowment
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