WestPhil Concert Launches Orchestral Skills Accelerator Program

Western Sydney Philharmonic (WestPhil), established in 2022, will launch an ambitious program to develop and nurture young musicians in the Parramatta Local Government Area, with the support of Western Sydney University (WSU), City of Parramatta, Music Teachers’ Association of NSW and River City Voices.

Patron Kim Williams, WestPhil Chair Max Holzner and new board member Professor Janice Reid AC, on the evening of Tuesday 11 June, at Parramatta Town Hall, for a performance by world-famous pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk and some talented young members of WestPhil to celebrate WestPhil’s achievements in its first two years, to build support for next steps and launch the new Accelerator Program. Tickets will be available from www.westphil.org.au (7pm-8.30pm, $15-$35)

The Accelerator Program will identify talented young musicians throughout the 63 primary schools in the Parramatta LGA. They will be offered tuition opportunities (potentially subsidised) with private instrumental teachers in the region who are WestPhil Affiliates, as well as regular weekly group sessions with top Australian performers and pedagogues at the Parramatta South Campus of WSU.

While the program will act as a feeder for the orchestra, its grander aim is to impart a well-rounded quality music education program including composition, exposure to choir and ensemble, and boosting skills through valuable performance practice. The program will also support music teachers and build a cohort of teachers aligned with WestPhil. Participants will also have to chance to be involved in WestPhil performances each year alongside internationally-recognised performers.

WestPhil’s vision is for Western Sydney to have its own orchestra within a decade providing pathways to employment for talented young musicians from the region, with local and national performance opportunities, at an international standard. The region has a critical mass of students, professional musicians and teachers/mentors who are committed to, and looking for, further engagement in the sector, so WestPhil’s critical role is providing a local pathway into orchestral music.

WestPhil has been created to meet the needs of young musicians in this rapidly growing part of Sydney. Greater Western Sydney is already home to over 2.7 million people and continues to be one of the fasting growing populations in Australia. It is multiculturally diverse with residents coming from over 170 countries, speaking over 100 different languages. Western Sydney is the third largest economy in the country behind the Sydney CBD and Melbourne. What started off as an idea to give the young people of Western Sydney an opportunity to learn and play beautiful music is now WestPhil, Western Sydney’s very own orchestra.