Sydney’s North Shore based classical and jazz radio station, Fine Music 102.5, opened its studio doors last Sunday and welcomed Sydney’s next generation of classical music lovers to enjoy and look around a brand-new centre specifically designed to nurture new audiences for classical music.
Among the attendees were Bob Hawke and Blanche d’Alpuget, who chatted to of one of Sydney’s finest young musicians, cellist Benett Tsai, who at only 14 has won multiple national awards.
Trent Zimmerman MP officially concluded the proceedings acknowledging the importance of music education in Australia, and noting that although he had grown up in a musical household, he may not be of the same standard as many of the young guests in the room. He did muse whether there may still be hope for him on recorder.
By far the highlight of the afternoon was a talk from Toby Thatcher, who at 28 already holds the coveted position of Assistant Conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Toby commanded the room, and spoke of “classical music as an engaging, visceral, confronting experience that is entirely capable of being enjoyed by all ages and demographics alike”.
Whilst showing a video of the Australian Youth Orchestra performing a high- energy Shostakovich Symphony at the BBC Proms he concluded, “if young people don’t find that exciting, we haven’t done enough to provide them with the tools to appreciate it”.
The Fine Music Learning Centre will be open for classes and activities to encourage all ages to take an interest in classical music all year round.