GSO presents gala concert

Geelong Symphony Orchestra (GSO) will hold its inaugural concert this month after attracting more than 60 of the region’s finest classical musicians.
GSO will perform The New World at Deakin’s Costa Hall on 26 February after being launched late last year.
GSO’s program for The New World will impress and inspire lovers of fine music, with Rachmaninov’s much-loved second piano concerto to be performed by celebrated concert pianist Kristian Chong.
One of Australia’s leading pianists, Chong has performed throughout Australia and the UK, and in China, France, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, and Zimbabwe.
As a soloist, he has appeared with the Adelaide, Melbourne, Queensland, Sydney and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, as well as orchestras in the UK, New Zealand and China.
The concert will also feature Dvorak’s great symphony From the New World and Nicolai’s sparkling Overture to the Merry Wives of Windsor.
The orchestra’s inaugural conductor and musical director is the highly regarded Joannes Roose, musical director of the Melbourne Sinfonia for the past 20 years.
Roose studied conducting in Vienna and worked with schools, universities and orchestras in several Australian states before calling Inverleigh home.
GSO President Wendy Galloway said she was thrilled that the new orchestra has attracted such a strong field of the region’s best musicians.
“Geelong has many fine musicians who are experienced and well trained, but until now have lacked the opportunity to come together as a symphony orchestra under the baton of a skilled professional conductor,” she said.
“The GSO has filled this gap – and our first concert will be a gala event showcasing the region’s considerable talents.”
Tickets for Geelong Symphony Orchestra’s The New World are on sale through GPAC. To book phone 5225 1200 or go to gpac.org.au.