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| Willoughby Symphony Orchestra |
From Beethoven and Tchaikovsky to Vaughan Williams, Sibelius, Respighi and Carl Orff, the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra’s 2027 season promises a diverse program designed to appeal to dedicated classical music lovers, families and audiences discovering the power of live orchestral performance.
Performances will take place at The Concourse in Chatswood, home of the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and its acoustically excellent Pat Reilly Concert Hall. The orchestra, which was established in 1966, has become an important cultural institution on Sydney’s North Shore and is proudly managed by Willoughby City Council.
A Season of Musical Highlights Begins with Fate
The 2027 season opens with Fate on Saturday 20 February at 7pm and Sunday 21 February at 2pm.
Professor Dr Nicholas Milton AM, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor, will lead the orchestra, with acclaimed pianist Konstantin Shamray joining as soloist.
The program brings together two major works from the orchestral repertoire: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, followed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36.
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 is renowned for its lyrical beauty, expressive piano writing and innovative relationship between soloist and orchestra. Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony then provides a dramatic and emotionally powerful conclusion, making Fate a compelling opening to the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra’s 2027 concert season.
Sea and Stars Brings Voices and New Australian Music
The second main season concert, Sea and Stars, will be presented on Sunday 16 May.
Dr Sarah Penicka-Smith, Associate Conductor, will lead the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Willoughby Symphony Choir in a program celebrating music inspired by nature, poetry and the vastness of the world around us.
The concert will feature Melody Eötvös’s Hic Svnt Dracones, the winning composition of the 2027 Young Composer Award.
The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra’s Young Composer Award has played an important role in supporting emerging composers for more than two decades, providing a unique opportunity for new Australian orchestral works to be performed by a full symphony orchestra.
The program will also include Beethoven’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Op. 112, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, Belinda Blades’ While It Lasts and Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region.
For audiences interested in contemporary Australian classical music alongside established masterpieces, Sea and Stars promises to be one of the season’s particularly intriguing concerts.
Highland Cathedral Combines Orchestra and Pipes and Drums
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| Willoughby Symphony Orchestra |
Professor Dr Nicholas Milton AM will conduct, with Australian saxophonist Amy Dickson joining the orchestra as soloist.
The concert will also feature the Scots College Old Boys Pipes and Drums, adding a distinctive Highland character to an already ambitious orchestral program.
The program includes Anna Clyne’s PIVOT, James MacMillan’s Saxophone Concerto, Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb’s Highland Cathedral and Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43.
The combination of symphony orchestra, saxophone and pipes and drums creates an especially appealing program for audiences looking for something beyond a traditional classical concert.
Pines of Rome Brings Italian Colour to the Concert Hall
On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September, the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra presents Pines of Rome.
Professor Dr Nicholas Milton AM will conduct, with Dominic Longhurst appearing as trumpet soloist and the Willoughby Band joining the orchestra.
The program opens with Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio italien, Op. 45, followed by Alexander Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major and Aram Khachaturian’s Masquerade Suite.
The concert culminates in Ottorino Respighi’s Pines of Rome, one of the Italian composer’s most celebrated orchestral works.
Respighi’s richly coloured orchestration and evocative depiction of Rome make Pines of Rome an ideal showcase for the full power and range of a symphony orchestra.
Carmina Burana Delivers a Dramatic Season Finale
The main 2027 concert season concludes with Carmina Burana on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 November.
Professor Dr Nicholas Milton AM will conduct the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Willoughby Symphony Choir in a powerful program pairing Igor Stravinsky’s Suite from The Firebird with Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
Orff’s Carmina Burana is among the most recognisable large-scale choral works of the 20th century, celebrated for its dramatic rhythms, powerful choruses and theatrical intensity.
Following Stravinsky’s colourful Firebird, the program promises an exhilarating finale to the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra’s 2027 main concert season.
Opera Gala Adds Theatrical Flair
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| Willoughby Symphony Orchestra |
Professor Dr Nicholas Milton AM will conduct, with violinist Rosa Donata Milton, soloists from Pacific Opera and the Willoughby Symphony Choir joining the performance.
The Opera Gala will bring together orchestral and vocal music in a special presentation celebrating the drama, emotion and spectacle of opera.
For Sydney audiences, it offers the opportunity to experience the power of operatic repertoire in the concert hall without travelling to the city centre for a major opera production.
Family Concerts Introduce a New Generation to Orchestral Music
The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra will continue its commitment to making orchestral music accessible to younger audiences with a series of family concerts throughout 2027.
Rosie the Clown Joins the Orchestra will be presented on Sunday 19 September, featuring Professor Dr Nicholas Milton AM, Rosa Donata Milton and Rosie the Clown.
The family program will provide an entertaining way for children and parents to discover how the individual instruments of an orchestra combine to create a complete musical experience.
Firebird for Families will follow on Saturday 6 November, again featuring Rosa Donata Milton and Rosie the Clown alongside Professor Dr Nicholas Milton AM.
The family program connects with the main season presentation of Stravinsky’s The Firebird, providing younger audiences with an accessible introduction to one of the great works of 20th-century orchestral music.
The season will conclude for families with Spirit of Christmas on Sunday 12 December, conducted by Peter Ellis and featuring the Willoughby Symphony Choir.
A Leading Cultural Attraction on Sydney’s North Shore
The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra has deep roots in the local community and has developed into one of Australia’s prominent community orchestras.
Established in 1966, the orchestra celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2026. It can feature up to 80 of Sydney’s finest musicians and presents an annual program encompassing major symphonic repertoire, guest artists, popular classics and family productions.
Its home at The Concourse in Chatswood provides an accessible cultural destination for residents and visitors exploring Sydney’s North Shore.
The orchestra has been led since 2001 by internationally celebrated conductor Professor Dr Nicholas Milton AM, who combines his international conducting career with a longstanding commitment to the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra.
Plan a Classical Music Experience in Chatswood
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| Willoughby Symphony Orchestra |
Chatswood is easily accessible by public transport and provides a wide range of restaurants, cafes, shopping and accommodation, making it possible to combine an evening concert with a broader North Shore Sydney experience.
With five major season programs, an Opera Gala, three family concerts and a repertoire spanning Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Vaughan Williams, Respighi, Stravinsky, Orff and contemporary Australian composers, the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra’s 2027 program offers considerable variety.
Whether the attraction is a beloved orchestral masterpiece, an emerging Australian composer, opera, choral music or an entertaining family performance, the 2027 season provides plenty of reasons to make a visit to Chatswood part of Sydney’s cultural calendar.
Willoughby Symphony Orchestra 2027 Season at a Glance
Fate
Saturday 20 February at 7pm and Sunday 21 February at 2pm
Beethoven and Tchaikovsky
Sea and Stars
Sunday 16 May
Eötvös, Beethoven, Vaughan Williams and Blades
Highland Cathedral
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July
Clyne, MacMillan, Roever and Korb, Sibelius
Opera Gala
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 August
Opera highlights with Pacific Opera soloists and Willoughby Symphony Choir
Pines of Rome
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September
Tchaikovsky, Arutiunian, Khachaturian and Respighi
Carmina Burana
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 November
Stravinsky and Orff
Family Concerts
Rosie the Clown Joins the Orchestra – Sunday 19 September
Firebird for Families – Saturday 6 November
Spirit of Christmas – Sunday 12 December
Bookings and Season Information
Bookings and information about the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra’s 2027 season are available through the orchestra’s official website. The orchestra advises audiences to check the latest booking information and concert details before attending, as programs and arrangements may be subject to change.
Willoughby Symphony Orchestra
Website: https://www.willoughbysymphony.com.au/
Email: wso@willoughby.nsw.gov.au
Media enquiries: 0461 315 183
Address: Willoughby City Council Administration Office, 31 Victor Street, Chatswood NSW 2067, Australia
The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra is proudly managed by Willoughby City Council.
Follow the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra on Instagram at @willoughbysymphony.
For bookings and current season information, visit https://www.willoughbysymphony.com.au/.
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