2014 Annual Report WEST AUSTRALIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNUAL REPORT 2014 1 Contents Chairman’s Report ............................................................................................ 3 Chief Executives’ Report .................................................................................. 4 Key Performance Indicators ............................................................................ 5 The Year in Brief ............................................................................................... 8 The Company ..................................................................................................10 Artistic Report .................................................................................................13 Community Engagement Report ..................................................................16 Philanthropy Report .......................................................................................18 Corporate Development Report ................................................................... 22 WEST AUSTRALIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNUAL REPORT 2014 2 Chairman’s Report The start of Asher Fisch’s tenure as the music lessons to all students in the Messiah. A highlight of their season West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s Primary school. Later in the year was their performance in Beethoven’s new Principal Conductor and Artistic WASO launched the pilot of a new Ninth symphony, the finale to the Adviser marked the start of an exciting El-Sistema inspired music education Beethoven Festival. new chapter for the company in program in three primary schools in WASO returned to Perth Zoo for 2014. It was a rewarding year, both Kwinana. This is a significant program a family concert featuring former artistically and financially, with the that is being delivered at no cost to Wiggle Sam Moran, as well a special company recording a $161,891 the participating schools and aims to collaboration between Kate Ceberano profit. The Orchestra presented more empower children from disadvantaged and Teddy Tahu Rhodes. Special events than 190 performances, reaching an backgrounds through classical music. in 2014 celebrated motion picture audience in excess of 200,000 during In December WASO took the first music with the Orchestra presenting the year. steps towards launching a significant WASO at the Movies with conductor In August WASO brought to our cultural exchange program with the Richard Kaufman, Pixar in Concert; audience a hugely successful China Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO). and the second instalment in The Lord Beethoven Festival, the first one Three musicians from the Orchestra of the Rings trilogy, The Two Towers. of its kind in Perth. Under the baton travelled to Beijing for a week of I would like to acknowledge the of Maestro Fisch, the Orchestra rehearsals and performances with ongoing support received from our performed all of Beethoven’s nine the CPO. This visit marked the official corporate and funding partners as symphonies over two weekends, start of a long-term partnership with well as our many donors. On behalf to great critical and audience acclaim. the CPO which will foster cultural of the board I would like to thank the The festival attracted an audience awareness and share expertise Federal and State Governments, our of around 10,000 with three of the between professional musicians and Principal Partner, Wesfarmers Arts and six concerts in Perth sold out. The administration staff in both orchestras. our many other partners, sponsors Orchestra travelled to Albany to There were many artistic highlights and patrons. WASO would not survive launch the Festival and performed without your continued generosity. to a capacity audience in the Albany during the MACA Limited Classics and Entertainment Centre for the first time Alcohol. Think Again Masters series I would also like to extend my in that venue. Hundreds of school with WASO performing alongside an gratitude to the talented and students also enjoyed a free open impressive list of guest soloist and dedicated group of musicians and rehearsal. conductors. In 2014 WASO welcomed administration staff at WASO for their fourteen outstanding guest artists commitment and passion. Finally Through WASO’s Principal Partnership to the Orchestra for the first time. I would like to acknowledge the with Wesfarmers Arts, the Orchestra WASO debuts included violinists Alina support given to me by my fellow was honoured to help Wesfarmers Pogostkina, Karen Gomyo and Alina Board members, and thank them for mark their 100th anniversary by Ibragimova and conductors Olari Elts, their dedication and diligence to the performing in a free community Jahja Ling and Matthew Halls. company. concert in April, held in Northam, the Wheatbelt town that was The Alcohol. Think Again Masters the birthplace of this iconic West series included the Australian Premiere Australian company. of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s De Profundis Janet Holmes à Court AC which was co-commissioned by the In November, WASO was Chairman privileged to be part of the ANZAC Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, commemorations events held in Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Albany. Members of WASO shared and WASO. In October, WASO the stage with The Waifs, Dan Sultan celebrated the 60th birthday of and Katie Noonan as part of a special Australian composer Carl Vine with free community concert, conducted by the world premiere of his Concerto Benjamin Northey. for Orchestra. After the introduction of a Community The WASO Chorus enjoyed a very Engagement department in 2013, this successful season under the direction area has continued to grow rapidly of a new leadership team comprised with the introduction of a number of of Chorus Director, Christopher van new programs. In June 2014, WASO Tuinen and Vocal Coach, Andrew launched a new music education Foote. The Chorus featured in a variety program in the remote Pilbara town of concerts throughout the year, from of Onslow which provides free The Lord of the Rings to Handel’s WEST AUSTRALIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNUAL REPORT 2014 3 Chief Executive’s Report In my seven years at the helm of After the expansion of our Western Australian Governments, WASO, 2014 stands out as a year of community engagement department our sponsors, donors and valued great achievement, with the Orchestra in 2013, this area continued to be a audience members. In particular reaching new artistic heights and the strategic focus for the organisation. I would like thank Richard Goyder company reaching out even further A number of new initiatives were and the team at Wesfarmers Arts, into the community to ensure that introduced to widen the reach of the WASO’s Principal Partner. It was we live and breathe our vision to program and engage new sectors of a privilege to help Wesfarmers touch souls and enrich lives through the community. These programs are celebrate their 100th anniversary music. Despite challenging economic another way that we aim to make in 2014, particulally as they are an conditions, WASO finished the year music accessible to the community, organisation that plays such a vital with a surplus, thanks to the hard with the potential to have a long role in supporting the arts in Western work of the company and the ongoing lasting impact on the young Australia. participants’ lives. commitment from our community of I would also like to acknowledge supporters. The support we receive WASO continues to be committed the Board of Directors for their from our audience, the federal and to taking music to all corners of the strong corporate governance and state governments, sponsors and vast state of Western Australian and wise counsel. Finally I would like to donors is crucial to our survival and we in 2014 we delivered two WASO on acknowledge the Orchestra, Chorus are immensely grateful and humbled the Road tours. The two tours visited and administrative staff who make up by their generosity. Karratha, Roebourne, Onslow and the WASO team. I feel very fortunate After the announcement of his Dampier in the Pilbara and Albany, to work with such a talented, creative and committed group of individuals appointment in 2012, WASO’s new Denmark and Jerramungup in the who every day strive to turn our Principal Conductor and Artistic Great Southern, with musicians vision into a reality. I thank them all Adviser, Asher Fisch arrived for the delivering workshops for students for their outstanding contribution and start of his keenly awaited tenure. as well as free concerts for the dedication to the company. From our season opening in March, wider community. One of WASO’s through to the Beethoven Festival in new education programs was also August, Asher’s artistic leadership had launched in Onslow, which further an immediate impact on the Orchestra, cements our investment in this area, with every one of his concerts receiving thanks to the support of the Chevron critical acclaim. His vision for the operated Wheatstone Project. Craig Whitehead Orchestra was most apparent during At the end of 2014 we were Chief Executive the Beethoven Festival, with his strong delighted to announce a new leadership guiding the musicians management structure for WASO’s to even greater heights of artistic main performance venue, the Perth achievement. It was clear early on that Concert Hall, which will see us begin this was the start of a great musical 2015 as the new venue manager. partnership. After successful negotiations with Financially, the company was able the City of Perth and the State Government, an