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The Big Sky Tour

Wiradjuri | Ngemba | Barkindji | Wilyakali

June 28 - July 8 2025

Building on the success of the Big West Tour in 2023, SYO will be heading west again – 2025 will see the orchestra travelling to Bathurst, Cobar, Bourke, Wilcannia and Broken Hill, presenting concerts and working with communities across the Far West region. 

Working with leading Australian Conductor Benjamin Northey, SYO Musicians will have the opportunity to: 

  • Perform Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition
  • Collaborate with local artists on brand new orchestral works 
  • Present Meet the Orchestra Concerts for communities that might be hearing an orchestra for the first time 
  • Be involved in digital project outcomes including recording and film 
  • Experience the vast and beautiful far west of NSW including visiting important First Nations sites 

Conductor, Benjamin Northey

 
Australian conductor Benjamin Northey is Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor for Learning and Engagement at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He has held various significant positions with Australian orchestras and will become Artistic Director of the Australian Conducting Academy in 2025.

Northey studied at Finland’s Sibelius Academy and the Stockholm Royal College of Music. He is acclaimed for his work in the Asia-Pacific region, receiving awards like the 2001 Symphony Australia Young Conductor of the Year. He conducts major orchestras globally and collaborates with renowned artists across diverse genres. Northey is also active in promoting new works by contemporary and First Nations composers and in music education. His recordings are available on ABC Classics.

Learn More

2023 Highlights:

Express Your Interest:

The Big Sky Tour is open to all musicians who are members of the SYO Symphonic Orchestral Program (The.SYO, SYO Phil, SWO, PSO, RGCO, and WSYO) in 2025. 

Priority will be given to musicians in The.SYO and the SYO Philharmonic however we encourage all current and new members to apply. 

Musicians must audition for SYO in 2025 to be considered for the tour, and will have the opportunity to express their interest when they complete their 2025 SYO Audition Application Form.

Note: current members should apply using their personalised audition application link, sent via email on Thursday the 4th of July.

The 2025 Big Sky Tour Orchestra will be announced in December 2024 with 2025 SYO Orchestra offers. 

The Big Sky Tour is Supported by:
Through Create NSW and the Regional Touring Fund
West Darling Arts

Sydney Youth Orchestras acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the unceded land on which we perform today, and their connections to land, water and community.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present, the original storytellers of these lands where we learn and create music
today. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and honour their continuation of the oldest music practice in the world.
Always Was, Always Will Be.

Digital Partners
SYO is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW