Into the Echo Chamber

Join conductor Luke Spicer and the Sydney University Symphony Orchestra on Sunday 31 August 2025 at 2:00pm at Leichhardt Town Hall for Into the Echo Chamber, an afternoon of music that explores the voices of the orchestra in their most exposed and resonant forms. This unique program places the spotlight on each section of the ensemble — brass, winds, and strings — inviting the audience into a space where sound lingers, answers, and transforms.

The brass will present a powerful collection of works including Dukas’ Fanfare pour précéder La Péri, Byrd’s The Earl of Oxford’s March, and Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium — each offering a distinct approach to grandeur, solemnity, and colour.

The wind section will be featured in Émile Bernard’s Divertissement for double wind quintet, a playful and vibrant piece that showcases the energy and clarity of the ensemble.

Included in the repertoire is a new work by Sydney-based composer Michael Smith, combining strings, winds, and percussion to explore rich textures and resonant soundscapes. This will be followed by Elgar’s lyrical Serenade for Strings and Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. Joining the orchestra for the Britten are two renowned soloists: tenor Ben Oxley, whose career spans the Berlin Philharmonic, English National Opera, and Opera Australia; and French horn player Robert Johnson, former principal horn of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Time: Sunday 31 August 2025, 2:00pm
Leichhardt Town Hall
107 Norton Street, Leichhardt, New South Wales