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The Organisation

Our History

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra

It all began on 16 September 1928, with a performance at The Queens Hall on William Street, under the leadership of charismatic conductor Harold Newton.

32 professional musicians presented a concert that included Perth’s first ever performance of Dvořák’s Symphony No.9 From the New World. According to a review the following day in The West Australian, “the performance proved a surprisingly good one”, and so this was the conception for what would later become known as the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

From small beginnings over 90 years ago, WASO has steadily evolved to become a trailblazing arts organisation, employing 82 full-time musicians dedicated to enriching the lives of West Australians.

The Capitol Theatre played an important part in WASO’s history as a regular venue for the Orchestra from 1953 until 1966, after which it was demolished and replaced by an office building. Left with no permanent performance space, concerts were shifted to Winthrop Hall at the University of WA in 1967 and remained there until Perth Concert Hall was opened on 27 January 1973.

Today, Asher Fisch is Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of our Orchestra and we are proud to call Perth Concert Hall home.


Resident/Chief Conductors

  • Harold T. Newton (1928-1932)
  • George Reid  (1932)
  • Nelson Burton (1933-1935)
  • Ernest J.Roberts (1936-1947)
  • Henri Krips (1948-1949)
  • Rudolf Pekarek (1950-1954)
  • John Farnsworth Hall (1955-1965)
  • Thomas Mayer (1965-1971)
  • Tibor Paul  (1971-1973)
  • David Measham (1974-1981)
  • Albert Rosen (1982-1985)
  • Jorge Mester  (1990-1993)
  • Vernon (Tod) Handley (1995-1998)
  • Vladimir Verbitsky (1999-Conductor Laureate)
  • Matthias Bamert (2003-2006)
  • Paul Daniel (2009-2013)
  • Asher Fisch (2014-current)

About

The Organisation

  1. About WASO
  2. Our History
  3. Board and Management
  4. Awards
  5. Reconciliation
  6. Annual Reports
  7. Our Community, Our Focus
Concerts

Visit our What's On Calendar to book your tickets.

Support Us

Contribute to WASO with a donation.

Sounds & Stories

News, Reviews, Webcasts, Music and more!

Engagement

Explore our Education & Community programs.

Box Office

WASO Ticketing Office
Level 3, 445 Hay Street

Perth WA 6000

Mon — Fri, 9am to 1pm
+61 8 9326 0000
waso@waso.com.au
By appointment only

Support Us

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Be a part of our musical journey!


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WASO

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  • West Australian Symphony Orchestra respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and Elders of Country throughout Western Australia, and the Whadjuk Noongar people on whose lands we work and share music.

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