We are excited to announce a fantastic new initiative at Perth Symphony Orchestra, created specifically to offer our musicians the opportunity to develop their skills and learn indispensable new ones. Under the guidance and tutelage of Concertmaster Paul Wright and Conductor and Artistic Director Jessica Gethin, the musician chosen to participate in the Concertmaster Development Program (CDP) will learn about leading concerts, concert planning, artistic direction and more.

Violinist Lucas O’Brien was the first musician to be offered a position in this program and accepted at the end of 2016.

It’s a very rare opportunity as a violinist to be able to be developed in this way. I’m not just learning how to improve my playing and incorporate leadership skills with that, but I’m also learning about the artistic vision and logistical planning required to present successful concerts such as those that PSO produces.
– Lucas O’Brien, Violinist and CDP participant

Lucas led a series of outdoor community concerts, each with a 2000+ crowd in February (see photos here of our Music @ Murdoch and Romance on the Green concerts) for Perth Symphony . He is also involved in Artistic Planning meetings with the artistic team (Exec Director Bourby Webster, Jessica Gethin and Paul Wright) which brainstorms innovative, creative and challenging ideas for presenting and programming concerts, particularly for the Perth Chamber Orchestra. Lucas has already brought some fantastic and fresh ideas to the group.

We passionately believe we exist for our musicians: to give them diverse playing opportunities; opportunities for skills development; and more, with the aim of working with our musicians to reach their full potential. We want them to be able to explore everything a career as a performing orchestral musician has to offer. Lucas is a talented musician and a committed member of PSO and we are excited to see him developing leadership and playing skills that will help his career and benefit PSO.
– Bourby Webster, Executive Director, PSO.

We are looking forward to working closely with Lucas throughout the rest of the year.