WASO opens access to Australian Music ATAR set works for WA students

West Australian Symphony Orchestra is supporting music students and teachers across WA with new resources for the Music ATAR Designated Works.

West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) is investing in the music education of Western Australia’s next generation by making high-quality recordings of three Australian orchestral works available for inclusion on the Music ATAR Designated Works List. These recordings will be available to students and teachers across the State for the next three years.

In support of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority), WASO delivered new in-studio recordings of James Ledger’s Indian Pacific and Aaron Wyatt’s Voiceless in June this year and collaborated with ABC Classic to make available the first movement of Holly Harrison’s Superhighway, which was commissioned by WASO and recorded live in concert at the world premiere in 2024. The recordings support the delivery of the Authority’s Music ATAR course for Western Australian students, with implementation of the Designated Works commencing in 2027 for Year 11 students, and in 2028 for Year 12 students.

These recordings will form part of the Authority’s collection of Music ATAR support materials and showcase the collective contribution of the Orchestra’s musicians, artistic leadership, and management team to making music education more accessible to students across Western Australia.

The recordings are particularly valuable because, unlike established works which are readily available through commercial streaming services and online platforms, there are limited opportunities for students to hear professionally recorded performances of contemporary Australian works such as Superhighway, Indian Pacific, and Voiceless.

Through these recordings, WASO is helping to ensure that students can listen to, revisit, and study the repertoire at their own pace, regardless of where they live in Western Australia.

WASO Chief Executive Paul Shannon said the project was an important investment in the future of music education in Western Australia.

“As the State Orchestra, WASO has a responsibility to help ensure that young Western Australians can access high-quality music education, wherever they live. These recordings represent a significant investment by WASO, but one we believe is incredibly worthwhile.” Shannon said.

WASO has a long-standing commitment to music education and community engagement, delivering one of Western Australia’s most extensive arts education programs. The Orchestra reaches students across metropolitan and regional WA through live performances, workshops, digital resources, and learning initiatives, and presents dedicated ATAR-focused concerts to support senior secondary music students studying prescribed works.

For teachers, having access to professional recordings of these works provides another valuable resource to support classroom learning. For students, it means they can return to the music as often as they need, listen closely, and develop their own understanding of the repertoire. WASO’s Director of Programming and Engagement, Evan Kennea, said the new recordings extend WASO’s education work beyond the concert hall, providing students across the State with equitable and ongoing access to professional orchestral performances of contemporary Australian repertoire.

“We are proud to support the Authority and WA’s music teachers in delivering meaningful music education, and to champion the work of Australian composers at the same time. We want students to be able to engage deeply with the Australian works they are studying, and that means making sure they have access to these high-quality recordings by their State Orchestra.” Kennea said.

WASO’s Full 2027 Education Season will be released on Monday 26 October.