Sydney Symphony Orchestra Musicians Takeover Kings Cross Carpark for Vanguard's 5th birthday Celebrations

In 2012 the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) launched an initiative that would change the way people experience classical music in this city. The vision for SSO Vanguard was to create a membership program of young philanthropists and take classical music out of the concert hall and in to diverse spaces around Sydney. The result has now seen pop-up chamber music events held at venues including a Surry Hills dance studio, the Sydney Cricket Ground and Mortuary Station.

Five years later the SSO will be taking Vanguard back to where it all began with a chamber music soiree on May 11 in an underground carpark in the gritty inner-Sydney suburb of Kings Cross - the site of one of Vanguard's first ever (and still talked about!) events.

Vanguard Chair Justin Di Lollo says the venue is the perfect place to celebrate Vanguard's 5th Birthday: "When you think of going to hear Sydney's best classical musicians in a sophisticated cocktail environment, a Kings Cross carpark isn't exactly the first venue that comes to mind," Di Lollo says. "But this really captures what Vanguard has been about. It's experimental and sometimes risky, and it allows people to experience classical music in an entirely new way."

A philanthropic program for Gen X and Yer's, Vanguard has grown from a small collective of devotees to a vibrant membership of more than 120 of the city's next generation of philanthropists. Through Vanguard, some members have become donors, ticket purchasers, subscribers and bequestors. All memberships support the Chair of Assistant Principal Cello Leah Lynn. Members of Vanguard are given unique opportunities to rub shoulders with the musicians and enjoy performances beyond the concert hall, with access to three events per year (with a plus one) and two opportunities to go behind-the-scenes at the Sydney Opera House to watch the SSO in rehearsal.

According to Yvonne Zammit, SSO Director of External Relations, Vanguard is a ground-breaking program and is seen internationally as a model of how to engage the next generation of philanthropists and a city's "movers and shakers".

"We are extremely proud of what we have achieved with Vanguard over the past five years. I acknowledge however that a program like Vanguard can only reach the heights we have achieved with the help of devoted members and to this end, I thank Vanguard Chair Justin di Lollo for his dedication and leadership and all the Vanguard Collective members who have been instrumental in helping grow this program."

To post a comment, you must register and login.