In addition to the engagement of Kirsten Williams as Concertmaster, another recent development serves to underline the exceptional quality of our orchestral players.

In May, when a cellist had to drop out late and at short notice from the orchestra for the von Suppé Requiem, our Orchestra Manager, Pamela Traynor was able to engage  Hyung Suk Bae, an SSO Fellow for 2016.

In the past few days, the great violinist, Pinchas Zukerman, has been in Sydney, playing a series of concerts with the SSO.  On 11 November, your correspondent went to the Opera House to hear Zukerman lead a performance of chamber music, including Mendelssohn’s Octet. The other performers included Andrew Haveron, the SSO’s Concertmaster, and Roger Benedict, the viola Principal.  Hyung Suk Bae was one of four SSO Fellows who joined this stellar group to play Mendelssohn’s  masterpiece, probably the greatest piece of music composed by a teenager (Felix was 16 at the time!)   The young cellist was clearly in his element in this company and we may hope that he will grace another of our performances before too long.

John Bowan