Perth Symphony was founded in 2011, and is known as the orchestra that breaks the rules. With over 220 musicians regularly employed by us, we are creating a home for WA talent.

We play in places and spaces you’d never expect to find an orchestra, from sheds to warehouses, foyers to art deco cinemas, and aeroplane hangars! We perform music from Mozart to Metallica, Björk to Beethoven and everything in between.

Our mission is simply ‘Music for Everyone’.

By taking the orchestra out of the concert hall and into communities across Western Australia, we are proud to have performed to over 500,000 people so far.

We are unique amongst orchestras and believe that music has the ability to move and inspire people from all cultures and walks of life. We challenge traditions and create powerful, compelling performances.

Perth Symphony creates and produces groundbreaking concerts, such as the critically acclaimed Reimagined series:  ‘UNPLUGGED: Nirvana Reimagined’, ‘Faith & Freedom: The music of George Michael’, and the ‘Nothing Compares: The Music of Prince’ performed at HBF Stadium, that had the audience dancing in the aisles.

We bring orchestral music to people who wouldn’t ordinarily hear it and experience it in ways they couldn’t possibly imagine.

OUR MISSION

Music for Everyone

The Perth Symphony exists to give the largest number of people possible the chance to experience the magic of the symphony orchestra. We wish for our music to bring people together, unifying communities and offering them unique experiences that move, inspire and bring joy.

We also fundamentally exist to give world-class opportunities to WA musicians, composers, conductors, arts administrators, and more.

OUR HISTORY

Perth Symphony Orchestra was launched in November 2011 in a gala open-air concert hosted by the University Club of WA, part of the University of Western Australia.

The orchestra had been forming behind the scenes since 2007, by Bourby Webster and her company North Street Music. Bourby, a viola player from the UK, was encouraged by many of WA’s outstanding classical players to start an orchestra.

The opportunity to create an infinite number of magical concerts – with WA as the backdrop – along with the need to showcase the incredible talent being nurtured in the State, meant a new orchestra for WA was not just an opportunity, but an imperative.