Independent Report Released on the Success of Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship Program

An independent report has found that the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) Fellowship program is addressing an unmet need in the Australian orchestral sector and that 86 per cent of alumni since the program started in 2001 are working in symphony orchestras around Australia and internationally.

"Without the SSO Fellowship program, it is questionable whether there would be the same number of high quality musicians available to work in Australia's symphony orchestras," stated the report by BYP Group, Sydney-based specialist impact evaluation consultants. "This is because there are no other programs in Australia that so specifically and comprehensively meet the needs of orchestral playing."

The SSO Fellowship is a year-long apprenticeship style program in which up to 16 talented emerging orchestral musicians from around Australia are mentored by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The participants receive invaluable professional opportunities including working with SSO Chief Conductor and Artistic Director David Robertson, a guaranteed minimum 40 paid calls with the SSO, one-on-one lessons with SSO musicians, and participating in master classes with the orchestra's guest artists.

Fellowship Artistic Director and SSO Principal Viola Roger Benedict said the SSO commissioned the report to ensure the Fellowship is continuing to provide the best training possible for young aspiring orchestral musicians.

"I am delighted this report validates the value we and all participants - past and present - see in this program. It also helps to re-affirm to supporters of the program - SSO Premier Partner Credit Suisse, our very generous donors and the state and federal governments - that their financial commitment to this program is delivering benefits beyond what we could have ever imagined when the program began 15 years ago.

"We are buoyed on by the report and its affirmation of the Program and take on board its recommendations in helping to develop further the program in the years to come."

The report found that the Fellowship has a significant, unique impact for program participants. Survey respondents almost unanimously agreed that the experience had been important or very important to their career (91%) and they had career opportunities they otherwise wouldn't have had (80%). Almost all Fellowship alumni have gone on to work in symphony orchestras around Australia and internationally (86%) with half of this group employed in permanent or contract roles.

The report recommended that the SSO should maintain the Fellowship program in its current form, but there were a handful of areas where the SSO could enhance its current offering:

• The SSO should expand the program to include more training in audition preparation, teaching and working in community outreach and other musical contexts.
• This could be achieved by building more opportunities within the Fellowship or working with other service providers to offer add-on modules to avoid diluting the current offer.

The final concert for the 2016 Fellows will be held at Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music at 3pm on 27 November:

http://www.sydneysymphony.com/production-pages/2016/education-special-event/much-ado.aspx

The full report is available for download here:

http://www.sydneysymphony.com/media/1755356/sso-fellowship-evaluation-report.pdf

The 2017 intake for the Fellowship will be announced in February.

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