Founded by WASO Honorary Patron and former Chair Janet Holmes à Court AC, the WASO Song Book is your opportunity to become part of WASO’s history.
The commissioning of new musical works is a matter very close to the heart of everyone at WASO. We aim to perform new works for our audiences each year, providing opportunities to nurture musical careers and create new music that may become the classics of tomorrow.
These works form the WASO Song Book – new works commissioned for WASO, by WASO. It is a truly unique project and we invite you to join us and be a part of this extremely rewarding creation.
For centuries, benefactors have enabled composers to bring their musical ideas to life: Claudio Monteverdi had the Doges of Venice to support him, J.S. Bach had the Archbishop of Salzburg and Haydn had the Esterhazy family, just to name a few. At WASO we are proud to acknowledge our very own benefactors.
Commissioning a new work is an extremely rewarding experience. You are credited on the score (forever!) as the commissioner of the work. Your name will be mentioned in concert program notes and all other publications where the work is discussed. Where possible, you will have the opportunity to meet the composer and perhaps most importantly, you will gain the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting the creative minds of contemporary Australia and that you have enabled the composition of a new work of art that without you, may not have been created.
As Janet Holmes à Court AC says, 'Commissions can be supported in many different ways for many different reasons. Ten friends can get together to commission a new work for the eleventh friend’s birthday. A commission can celebrate an anniversary, the birth of a grandchild, the memory of a loved one or it can be for the simple pleasure of leaving a legacy to your love of music.'
Donations to The WASO Song Book have produced the following works:
2019
James Ledger – Viola Concerto Supported by Geoff Stearn
Iain Grandage – Orpheé Concerto for Cor Anglais Supported by Margaret Seares and the below donors in honour of Professor David Tunley Prue Ashurst
Mark Coughlan
Jean Harvey
Evan Kennea & Emily Green-Armytage
Peter Leunig
Sara Macliver
Cyrus Meher-Homji
John Meyer
Victoria Rogers
Margaret & Roger Seares
Peggy & Tom Stacy
David Symons
2018
Carl Vine - Implacable Gifts Supported by Geoff Stearn
2017
Paul Stanhope - Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra Supported by Dr Ken Evans as a birthday gift for Dr Glenda Campbell-Evans
2016
Lachlan Skipworth - Spiritus Supported by Simon Lee Foundation
Andrew Shultz - Maali Supported by Geoff Stearn
2015
Mark-Anthony Turnage – Håkan Supported by Janet Holmes à Court AC and WASO’s Making Music Together Patrons. Part of a co-commission with KölnMusik - Kölner Philharmonie, London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonie Luxembourg and Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg
James Ledger - Simpler Times Supported by Geoff Stearn
2014
Carl Vine – Concerto for Orchestra Supported by Geoff Stearn
2013
James Ledger – Golden Years Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Supported by Geoff Stearn
Jared Yapp – The Ecstatic Supported by an anonymous Patron
2011
Ross Edwards – Spirit Ground Supported by Geoff Stearn
2010
Sir John Tavener – Little Ceremonial Supported by Janet Holmes à Court AC – co-commission with Norfolk and Norwich Festival
Ross Edwards – Elegies and Epiphanies Supported by Peter R. Dawson
We invite you to be a part of the WASO Song Book.
To learn more, please contact our Philanthropy Team on (08) 9326 0014 or philanthropy@waso.com.au.