The Firebird
- Saturday 14 March 2026
- 1pm - 3pm
- Verbrugghen Hall - Sydney Consevatorium
Experience the blazing colour and primal energy of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite as Chief Conductor Stanley Dodds leads The Sydney Youth Orchestra through one of ballet’s most legendary scores. From the mysterious opening that conjures an enchanted forest to the explosive finale that celebrates triumph over darkness, this suite distils the essence of Stravinsky’s breakthrough work, the ballet that launched the 20th century and made the young composer an overnight sensation in Paris. The music pulses with Russian folklore, shimmers with orchestral magic, and explodes in moments of pure visceral power that will leave you breathless.
Stanley Dodds brings three decades of experience with the Berlin Philharmonic and his work as Chief Conductor of both the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and Poland’s Cavatina Philharmonic to this thrilling program. For our young musicians, performing The Firebird is a rite of passage, a chance to master one of the orchestral repertoire’s most demanding and rewarding works, where every section gets their moment to shine. Whether you know this music from concert halls or simply want to discover why Stravinsky changed music forever, this is a performance that demands to be experienced live.
Stanley Dodds brings an extraordinary pedigree to his role as Chief Conductor of The Sydney Youth Orchestra, appointed in 2024. As Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Cavatina Philharmonic Orchestra in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, which he founded in 2024, and former Principal Conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (2014-2025), Dodds balances prestigious positions with remarkable expertise. His distinguished 30-year career as a violinist with the legendary Berliner Philharmoniker, where he also served 12 years on the executive board, provides invaluable insight into orchestral excellence at the highest level. Born in Canada and raised in Australia, Dodds’ conducting has been shaped by mentorship from Jorma Panula, Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle, and Kirill Petrenko. Deeply committed to nurturing the next generation, he has been Artistic Director of the State Youth Orchestra of Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania since 2014 and formerly directed the Young Concerts Festival for youth orchestras. His appointment to The.SYO represents a significant milestone as the orchestra returns to international touring in 2026.
Sydney born violinist, and SYO alumni, Harry Ward has achieved the remarkable distinction of performing with the Berliner Philharmoniker, one of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, where he has held the position of first violin since March 2023. Ward’s journey from Sydney to Berlin exemplifies exceptional talent and dedication, having studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, and the Australian National Academy of Music before joining the Karajan Academy under Noah Bendix-Bagley, first concertmaster of the Berliner Philharmoniker. A winner of the Australian National Academy of Music Concerto Competition, Ward’s training was supported by prestigious scholarships including the Musica Viva Australia Futuremaker. His appointment to the Berliner Philharmoniker fulfilled a lifelong dream inspired by growing up listening to the orchestra’s legendary recording
