The Burnside Symphony Orchestra is a community
orchestra based in the
Burnside Council
The City of Burnside is a Local government in Australia, local government area in the South Australian city of Adelaide stretching from the Adelaide Parklands into the Adelaide Hills, Adelaide foothills with an area of . It was founded in August ...
area in
Adelaide,
South Australia. While most concerts presented are in the Burnside Ballroom, the orchestra sometimes repeats performances outside the Adelaide metropolitan area, offering rural towns the chance to hear live performances of popular classical music.
History
The orchestra was formed in 1956 to encourage amateur musicians, aspiring soloists and conductors to gain experience in performing symphonic repertoire with a full orchestra.
Its main instigator was Dr
John Nicholson Black
John Nicholson Black (28 June 1922 – 6 October 2018) was Principal of Bedford College, London from 1971-81.
Education
John Nicholson Black was educated at Rugby School and Exeter College, Oxford.
Career
He did war service with the RAF fr ...
, a flautist and conductor who, while originating from the UK, was residing and working in Adelaide as Senior Agronomist at the
Waite Institute
The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...
. The orchestra rehearsed during its earliest days in Clayton Church Hall before finding a permanent home in the Burnside Town Hall. The
City of Burnside supported the orchestra at this time and has continued to do so throughout its history.
Concerts
The orchestra presents four concerts each year and performs some programs both at its home venue, the Burnside Ballroom,
and at various country venues including
Tanunda in the
Barossa Valley. Most concerts are presented in support of a local or international charity. Charities have included
Save the Children, Burnside
Rotary, Royal District Nursing Society and Sailability.
Conductors
The orchestra's inaugural conductor was Dr John Black (1957-1963). The current musical director is Philip Paine.
Past conductors have included Malcolm John, David Cubbin, Bob Cooper, Jim Ferguson, Alfonse Anthony, Joanna Drimatis, Martin Butler, Bruce Stewart, Kim Worley
and Bryan Griffiths.
Commissions
In 1986 the Burnside Symphony Orchestra commissioned ''The Christmas kangaroo : a children's story for narrator and orchestra ''with words by
Ian Mudie and music by Peter Webb.
The Christmas Kangaroo
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References
External links
Burnside Symphony Orchestra websiteSAcommunity directory listing - BSO
{{authority control
Australian orchestras
Community organizations
Organisations based in Adelaide