NSSWE is about community, performance, development and fun. Our program complements school band programs by challenging students who have reached a high level of musical proficiency.

Our musicians get to:

• perform repertoire of a very high standard in professional and public venues, such as The Concourse in Chatswood
• further develop their musical skills and talent
• share their love of music with like-minded peers
• tour with their ensemble, both locally and internationally

NSSWE runs four weekly ensembles rehearsing at Lindfield College, catering to musicians from Year 4 through to tertiary level. Auditions will be held in mid-November, with positions available on all concert band instruments at all ages.

YMS 2027 Auditions Now Open

Young Mannheim Symphonists 2027: Beethoven Celebration

Auditions for YMS 2027 are now open! The Young Mannheim Symphonists program is Australia’s national youth orchestra for HIP (historically informed performance) and 2027 is going to be huge.

📯 YMS 2027 National Academy | 30 March – 4 April | Brisbane | BEETHOVEN Symphony No.9 ‘Choral’
🎻 YMS 2027 VIC State Academy | 6-10 July | Melbourne | BEETHOVEN Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’ and Coriolan OvertureInstrumentalists aged 13-23 may audition for one or both programs.

🎵Workshops, side-by-side playing, coaching, rehearsals and triumphant public concerts in Queensland and Victora. Conductors include the eminent Chad Kelly (National Academy) and Rachael Beesley (VIC State Academy), with co-director Nicole van Bruggen and a fantastic line-up of ARCO faculty musicians.

Not to mention making the friendships of a lifetime! Said one YMS participant, “Hands down the best youth orchestra experience I’ve had.”

Know a young musician? Tell them about YMS!
Applications/auditions deadline: midnight Sunday 25 October.

Designed for intermediate to advanced string players (violin, viola, cello, and double bass), this course presents a rare and wonderful opportunity for string players to work under the guidance of Vienna-trained concert violinist Rupert Guenther.

Enjoy a friendly, supportive and low-pressure environment, and dive into diverse performance styles through an exciting and engaging 5-day schedule.

Key activities include:

• Orchestral Work – Perform major string orchestra repertoire.
• Chamber Ensembles – Gain insights into chamber music through quartets, trios, and duets.
• Creative Sessions – Explore expressive playing & composition through improvisation.
• Live Performances – Join in optional informal short concerts.

This series of daily workshops brings your music to life with new playing approaches, insights, and techniques to enhance and deepen your classical music experience. Through a sequence of structured group sessions, you will focus on bowing, left-hand technique, and musical development exercises. The course also dives into deep listening, expressive playing, the emotion of tone, tone production, phrasing, shifting, and intonation. Finally, you will learn how to approach different playing styles, master your posture, and practice breathing and relaxation techniques to help you feel completely at home on stage.

Playerlink brings together talented students from across New South Wales for intensive musical experiences led by Sydney Symphony musicians and Fellows.

Whether joining us in Sydney, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga or Coffs Harbour, students develop skills alongside other passionate young musicians from across the state.

At every Playerlink Hub, participants engage in full ensemble rehearsals, instrument-specific sectionals, workshops and masterclasses, culminating in an informal performance for family and friends.

Dates by Playerlink Hub
Wagga Wagga: Friday 2 to Sunday 4 April 2027
Wollongong: Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 May 2027
Coffs Harbour: Friday 6 to Sunday 8 August 2027
Sydney: Wednesday 29 September to Friday 1 October 2027

Playerlink brings together talented students from across New South Wales for intensive musical experiences led by Sydney Symphony musicians and Fellows.

Whether joining us in Sydney, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga or Coffs Harbour, students develop skills alongside other passionate young musicians from across the state.

At every Playerlink Hub, participants engage in full ensemble rehearsals, instrument-specific sectionals, workshops and masterclasses, culminating in an informal performance for family and friends.

Dates by Playerlink Hub
Wagga Wagga: Friday 2 to Sunday 4 April 2027
Wollongong: Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 May 2027
Coffs Harbour: Friday 6 to Sunday 8 August 2027
Sydney: Wednesday 29 September to Friday 1 October 2027

Playerlink brings together talented students from across New South Wales for intensive musical experiences led by Sydney Symphony musicians and Fellows.

Whether joining us in Sydney, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga or Coffs Harbour, students develop skills alongside other passionate young musicians from across the state.

At every Playerlink Hub, participants engage in full ensemble rehearsals, instrument-specific sectionals, workshops and masterclasses, culminating in an informal performance for family and friends.

Dates by Playerlink Hub
Wagga Wagga: Friday 2 to Sunday 4 April 2027
Wollongong: Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 May 2027
Coffs Harbour: Friday 6 to Sunday 8 August 2027
Sydney: Wednesday 29 September to Friday 1 October 2027

Playerlink brings together talented students from across New South Wales for intensive musical experiences led by Sydney Symphony musicians and Fellows.

Whether joining us in Sydney, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga or Coffs Harbour, students develop skills alongside other passionate young musicians from across the state.

At every Playerlink Hub, participants engage in full ensemble rehearsals, instrument-specific sectionals, workshops and masterclasses, culminating in an informal performance for family and friends.

Dates by Playerlink Hub
Wagga Wagga: Friday 2 to Sunday 4 April 2027
Wollongong: Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 May 2027
Coffs Harbour: Friday 6 to Sunday 8 August 2027
Sydney: Wednesday 29 September to Friday 1 October 2027

INTRODUCTION

The Symphony Central Coast Concerto Competition is a prestigious biennial classical music event and gives young Central Coast musicians an opportunity to perform part of a concerto with a full orchestra as a step toward a career as a solo performing artist.

TAKING PART

Performers play one or several movements of a concerto, up to a time limit of around 15 -20 minutes.

The first stage of the event is a 10 minute audition, with 2 adjudicators. This stage will be held at the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music. A grand piano is available if required and another is available for the accompanist. All applicants are required to provide their own accompanist. A list of accompanists is available from the Conservatorium of Music if required.

Up to four musicians are then selected to perform at the Prodigies Concert in September. At the Prodigies concert, all performers play the movements of their chosen concertos with Symphony Central Coast and are eligible for an Adjudicator’s Award ($2,000) and/or the People’s Choice (popular) award ($1,000). The winner of the Adjudicator’s Award will also be offered an opportunity to perform their concerto in full or similar work with Symphony Central Coast in the following year.

Applications for the 2027 Concerto Competition will open on 28/02/27 and close on 9/04/27. Please submit application via the button at the bottom of this page.

The Symphony Central Coast Prodigies Concerto Competition will be held on 19/09/27 at the Gosford Regional Library Auditorium.

KEY DATES

Applications open: 28/01/27

Applications close: 9/04/27

Auditions:  TBA

Rehearsals with orchestra: TBA

Concert: 19/09/27

Suitably qualified students who are currently working with the Central Coast Youth Orchestra are invited to express interest in having the opportunity to rehearse and perform with Symphony Central Coast.  If you are interested in understanding more about this as a current or future goal, please connect with your teacher and also the Artistic director to let them know so that they can connect you with the orchestra.

Suitably qualified students who are currently working with the Central Coast Youth Orchestra or the Senior Wind Ensemble are invited to express interest in having the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the Central Coast Concert Band.  If you are interested in understanding more about this as a current or future goal, please connect with your teacher and also the Artistic director to let them know so that they can connect you with the concert band.