Strathfield Symphony Orchestra

03/06/2026

Close your eyes… you’re in Italy 🇮🇹
(Or at least somewhere far more glamorous than your current scrolling situation.)
Gabriel’s Oboe — heartbreakingly beautiful, effortlessly iconic, and just a little bit cinematic.
Consider this your teaser for Viva l’Italia 🎶
📅 4–5 July
Join us for the full experience—less scrolling, more soaring melodies.

25/05/2026

🎶 SSO Unplugged: Symphonies, Secrets & Shenanigans! 🎶
Episode 10 — Meet John Fletcher
This week we’re shining the spotlight on John Fletcher, bassoonist and a much‑valued member of the SSO for around 16 years.
A retired electronics engineer, John brings a natural curiosity and analytical mindset to everything he does — whether that’s navigating the intricacies of 20th Century orchestral music or tackling a particularly tricky bassoon passage.
Here’s a little more about John:
🎼 Instrument: Bassoon
🕰️ Member of SSO: ~16 years
💼 Day Job: Retired (Electronics Engineer)
🎶 Favourite Composer: Vaughan Williams
🎧 Favourite Orchestral Style: 20th Century
🎵 Favourite Piece: Petrushka — Stravinsky
🎶 Music Taste: Almost everything… except reggae!
🎻 If Not Bassoon: He’d likely take up the French horn
And here’s where things take a clever twist…
🧩 Special talent: John both solves and sets cryptic crosswords — combining logic, creativity and just the right amount of mischief.
From Stravinsky’s complexity to crossword clues and circuit boards, John brings precision, wit and a love of problem‑solving to the SSO — and we’re very glad to have him in the orchestra.
📸 Photo credit: Wozpix

18/05/2026

🎻🖤 We came. We played. We made you an offer you can’t refuse… (musically).
A little taste from our strings: Nino Rota’s The Godfather suite.
If this soundtrack has you plotting your next night out… keep your calendar clear for Viva l'Italia:
🇮🇹 Saturday 4 July – 7.00pm
🇮🇹 Sunday 5 July – 2.30pm

Come for the Italian flair. Stay for the cinematic goosebumps.
And remember… in our family, the strings always get the last word. 😉

17/05/2026

🎶 SSO Unplugged: Symphonies, Secrets & Shenanigans! 🎶
Episode 9 — Meet Hannah Mercer
This week we’re delighted to introduce Hannah Mercer, violinist and one of the newest members of the SSO, having joined in 2025 — already making her mark with energy and a love of all things dramatic.
By day, Hannah works in HR within the emergency services, bringing calm, support and resilience to a high‑pressure environment — and then swapping straight into orchestral life after hours.
Here’s a little more about Hannah:
🎻 Instrument: Violin
🕰️ Member of SSO: Since 2025
💼 Day Job: HR in the emergency services
🎶 Favourite Composer: Tchaikovsky
🎧 Favourite Orchestral Style: Anything dark and dramatic
🎵 Favourite Piece to Play: Intermezzo Sinfonica from Cavalleria Rusticana
🎸 Favourite Non‑Orchestral Music: 2000s emo & pop punk
🎻 If Not Violin: She’s oboe‑curious…
Hannah has always been drawn to the stage:
🎭 Background: Dance, drama and musicals — both on stage and in the pit — so performance is truly in her DNA.
From sweeping Tchaikovsky lines to emo throwbacks, Hannah brings passion, theatricality and a love of storytelling to the SSO — and we’re so glad she’s part of the orchestra.
📸 Photo credit: Little Raven Photography

15/05/2026

Support our friends, Symphonia Jubilate! SJ provide opportunities for NSW public school students to participate in amazing ensembles and growing their skills as up and coming musicians.

Strathfield Symphony is a huge supporter of the opportunities that Symphonia Jubliate provide for our next generation of players and would encourage you to become a supporter as well. Our founding conductor, Richard Gill was a lifelong advocate of the power and importance of music education for every student. Let's make sure we continue to follow in his footsteps.

Buy a ticket to their Fundraising concert on Friday My 22nd and hear their fabulous students in person.
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1568400
If you can't go along to the concert, you can make a donation directly:
FOSJ Gift Fund Account (Friends of Symphonia Jubilate Inc Gift fund)
Account number: 184 529 717
BSB: 633 000

04/05/2026

We have so many talented musicians, but our president Craig Giles is one particularly impressive person. Not only does he spend countless hours looking after us in his role as president, he finds time to volunteer across all events at Mardi Gras, and has done for many, many years. This year, he was named volunteer of the year, a high honour indeed! Congratulations Craig, we are proud and grateful for your fabulous work in the community ❤️🌈 https://www.starobserver.com.au/artsentertainment/scene-events/mardi-gras-community-awards/241735?fbclid=IwdGRjcARlgvtjbGNrBGWC22V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHrESakKT_b5aXo7Xqx-qsTc3VMI6eETO4g_TAQCKfObr4lJZ_4hrLi80GYWt_aem_GmMs4OsU9_qhpENS9UNRIA

Sydney Gay and Le***an Mardi Gras has announced the winners of its 2026 Community Awards and hall of fame inductees.

19/04/2026

🎶 SSO Unplugged: Symphonies, Secrets & Shenanigans! 🎶
Episode 8 — Meet Chris Elenor
This week we’re delighted to shine the spotlight on Chris Elenor, violist and a long‑standing member of the SSO, having been part of the orchestra since 2000 — more than two decades of music, commitment and community.
Now retired from paid work, Chris brings a deep love of music and performance to everything he does, with a particular passion for the clarity and beauty of the Classical era.
Here’s a little more about Chris:
🎼 Instrument: Viola
🕰️ Member of SSO: Since 2000
💼 Day Job: Retired
🎶 Favourite Composer: Bach
🎧 Favourite Orchestral Genre: Classical
🎵 Favourite Piece: Bach Double Violin Concerto
🎻 If Not Viola: He’d love to play the flugelhorn
🎶 Other Musical Loves: Irish music
Chris’s talents extend well beyond the viola section.
🎭 Special talents: Choir singing and amateur dramatics — equally at home on stage, whether playing, singing or acting.
And an extraordinary fact many may not know:
🏅 Chris was awarded an Order of Timor‑Leste in recognition of his contribution to the National Liberation Struggle — a remarkable honour reflecting a life of service and commitment beyond the orchestra.
From Bach to folk music, from orchestral playing to the stage, Chris brings depth, experience and generosity to the SSO — and we’re proud to celebrate him as part of SSO Unplugged.
📸 Photo credit: Wozpix

12/04/2026

🎶 SSO Unplugged: Symphonies, Secrets & Shenanigans! 🎶
Episode 7 — Meet Deborah Cunneen
This week we’re delighted to spotlight Deborah Cunneen, flautist, SSO member for 4 years, and someone whose journey through music and learning is as impressive as it is inspiring.
By day, Deborah is a school psychologist, but music has been a constant throughout her life. After 17 years teaching music, Deborah retrained as a psychologist — and has even published a research article along the way. A true lifelong learner!
Here’s a little more about Deborah:
🎼 Instrument: Flute
🕰️ Member of SSO: 4 years
💼 Day Job: School Psychologist
🎶 Favourite Composer: Sibelius
🎧 Favourite Musical Eras: Romantic period & 20th Century
🎭 Favourite Non‑Orchestral Music: Musical theatre
🎻 If Not Flute: She’d play the Cello
And just when you think that’s enough talent for one person…
🎂 Special talent: Deborah is a fabulous cake decorator — creating masterpieces both on stage and in the kitchen.
From the flute section to the psychology classroom, and from Sibelius to show tunes, Deborah brings depth, care and creativity to the SSO — and we’re so glad she’s part of our orchestra.
📸 Photo credit: Little Raven Photography

25/03/2026

It's official! Sunday concert is sold out. Make sure you book your tickets for Saturday night before that does the same! https://strathfieldsymphony.org.au/2025/12/13/the-new-world/

23/03/2026

Happy birthday to our amazing conductor Sada Muramatsu. He'll go to any length to keep us together! Be sure to come along to our concert this weekend when he makes his instrumental debut.... here's a sneak peak.