For one remarkable week, Albany became home to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
What audiences see on stage is only part of the story. Behind two sold out performances at Albany Entertainment Centre was a week-long tour involving more than 70 musicians and staff, thousands of kilometres travelled, countless conversations, and music shared with people of all ages in the Great Southern. The tour demonstrated the power of live music to connect communities, spark curiosity and create moments of genuine human connection.
Setting the Stage
The tour began before the Orchestra arrived.
An advance party travelled to Albany early in the week, bringing a string quartet and wind quintet to begin the community engagement program. Their first stop was a series of side-by-side workshops with the Albany Sinfonia, where local musicians rehearsed and performed excerpts from Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 alongside WASO players. In a variety of spaces, professional and community musicians came together through a shared language: music.
Music That Meets People Where They Are
For many people, attending a full symphony orchestra performance isn't always possible. That's why regional touring extends beyond the concert hall.
Across four aged care homes, WASO's string quartet performed a program of familiar favourites, from opera classics and chamber masterworks to beloved melodies such as Moon River. Residents sang along, tapped their feet and shared memories sparked by music they hadn't heard performed live in years. In many cases, these were performances brought directly to people who otherwise may not have the opportunity to experience them.
At local primary schools, WASO's wind quintet introduced students to the sounds, personalities and possibilities of orchestral instruments. Guided by Education Manager Christina Diaz, students conducted the ensemble, asked questions and experienced how music can tell stories and evoke different emotions. What began with familiar tunes soon became a lesson in listening, imagination and creativity.
Inspiring the Next Generation
The Orchestra's commitment to education continued as local secondary students were invited into Albany Entertainment Centre for an open rehearsal.
Students from Albany Senior High School and Australian Christian College – Southlands witnessed the final stages of preparation for the weekend performances. They observed Music Director Asher Fisch and acclaimed pianist Konstantin Shamray refining musical details with the Orchestra, providing a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into professional music-making at the highest level.
Two Sold Out Performances
By Thursday evening, the remainder of the Orchestra had completed the journey from Perth, transforming Albany Entertainment Centre into a temporary home for the State Orchestra. More than 70 musicians and staff had travelled to deliver the tour, alongside instruments, production equipment and the many logistical elements required to present major symphonic performances away from Perth.
Before each concert, local musician and educator Neville Talbot welcomed audiences with insightful pre-concert talks that unpacked the music and illuminated the connections between the works on the program.
The performances themselves were memorable celebrations of orchestral music. Following a Welcome to Country by Uncle Lester Coyne on Menang Country, audiences experienced Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. The response was extraordinary. Both performances played to capacity audiences, with enthusiastic standing ovations and encore performances from piano soloist Konstantin Shamray.
More Than a Concert
Regional touring is about more than presenting a concert program.
It is about ensuring that live orchestral music reaches people wherever they live. It is about inspiring young people, supporting music education, creating opportunities for community musicians, and bringing meaningful experiences to those who may otherwise miss out.
From school classrooms and aged care homes to rehearsal rooms and sold out concert halls, WASO's Albany tour showcased the many ways an orchestra can serve its community. Every performance, workshop, rehearsal and conversation formed part of a much larger story, one built on access, connection and shared cultural experiences.
As another successful chapter in WASO's 2026 regional touring program, following visits to Bunbury and Mandurah, Albany reaffirmed something that audiences across Western Australia continue to demonstrate: great music belongs everywhere. WASO's touring program is made possible through the support of MM Electrical Merchandising and the Western Australian Government.
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